his year, our church’s Angel Tree ministry was a powerful reminder of the generosity and love that comes alive during the Christmas season. Angel Tree is our church’s way of helping families who, for whatever reason, are not able to provide Christmas gifts for their children. Through partnerships with community groups, Sunday school classes, and local schools, we compile a list of families in need. I then reach out to threse families to confirm the needs for each child. Each receives three gift tags, and our church family swoops in to make the magic happen.
This year, the outpouring of support was overwhelming. From the first Sunday, tags flew off the tree, so quickly, in fact, that we started saving some for the second service to give everyone a chance to participate! The generosity didn’t stop there. People went well beyond the $30-per-tag guideline, bringing in bags of gifts, including tricycles! Our lobby was overflowing with presents. It was a beautiful sight of giving in action.
What made this year even more memorable were the unexpected needs that surfaced. Families asked for essentials like winter coats and bedding, and thanks to a surprise $1,000 donation from a generous local man, we were able to meet even these pressing needs. In total, we served 25 families, providing for 41 children with close to $5,900 worth of gifts, in addition to food and other necessities.
One mom’s text summed it all up: “This is beyond my wildest dreams.” The joy and gratitude our Angel Tree brought to families was deeply moving, and I’m proud of our church’s heart for generosity.
