Angel Tree Project Brings Holiday Joy

Home of Hope employees and volunteers are packaging Christmas gifts and food baskets this week, part of their annual Angel Tree project.  Marla Lucky, (Left to Right) Brooklyn Pitts, Laci Sutton, Paula Green, Michelle Holley, Cindy Rogers and Trevor Malley show gifts and food gathered for one of 45 families by Home of Hope employees, board members and donors.

The Christmas spirit and the feeling of family can be felt – and seen – this week as Home of Hope employees organize donations from their Angel Tree project to share the joy of the season.   Beginning in November each year, Home of Hope employees are able to support their co-workers by buying gifts for children and participating in a basket raffle to raise funds for food baskets.

“We know there are struggles and bumps in the road that make the holidays hard sometimes,” said Chief Operating Officer Dena Pitts.  “By the nature of our work, our employees are very caring.  If we can donate gifts and money to help another employee’s family have a brighter Christmas, then that is just what we do.  We also have a very caring and generous group of board members and partners in our communities that help make this project so successful.”

Home of Hope’s 400+ employees are given the opportunity to apply for the Angel Tree project for their family.  This year 100 angels from 45 families will receive gifts and food from the generosity of others.

One Angel Tree recipient summed up her feelings. “The Home of Hope Angel Tree has blessed my family in a time of need.  Working paycheck to paycheck, making sure all of the bills are paid and that my kiddos have what they need doesn’t leave much extra for anything else.  It makes my heart happy seeing smiles on my children’s faces on Christmas morning.  God Bless the people who help with the Home of Hope Angel Tree.”

Dolls, bicycles, games, clothes, shoes, teddy bears, and more come pouring in to fulfill children’s wish lists.  Home of Hope is grateful for LynCo Properties and local businesses and donors who adopt any angels left on the tree after the deadline.  The basket raffle and monetary donations this year raised nearly $2000 to provide sacks of food for holiday dinner and a few staples beyond.

“Our employees give so much of themselves to care for individuals we serve,” commented Dr. Ralph Richardson, Home of Hope Chief Executive Officer.  “The Angel Tree project is a small way we can, hopefully, make a big impact.  It is very touching to see the joy of giving our employees receive by buying raffle tickets and bringing in sacks of gifts.  It’s our hope that these efforts help bring the joy and excitement of Christmas that these 45 families, and all of our employees, so richly deserve.”