Angel Trees

Angel Tree Personalized Gifts

Some communities where I have worked have had these for a variety of situations, not just Christmas. The idea is to provide personalized information to help people who could use a little help. Maybe they lost all of their belongings in a fire, or were caught up in some of life’s more challenging developments.

Local welfare agencies usually step in to help. But this time of year, Angel Trees offer information about individuals - without divulging their name - so that people can pitch in and help them.

Over the years that I have participated in an Angel Tree out of our local chamber of commerce office, I can’t remember the last time I read a request for something outrageous. The listed items tend to be clothing, shoes and socks, maybe a coat. The younger-aged postings have been for the typical toy requests - dolls, bears, book, maybe a piece of sports equipment.

When I think of Angel trees, I often think of the Precious Moment Angels with their large eyes, such as the Angel in this baby quilt. Over the years, several of our custom baby quilts have made their way under the Christmas tree for a newborn child or two.

Here is the kind of personalized information that you will normally find on an Angel Tree:

Personalized gift information so that “angels” can lend a hand. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

You can usually find Angel Trees at your local banks, hospitals, chambers of commerce and welfare organization main offices. The one thing they all seem to ask is if you pick up items for someone, return them with the recipient’s information. I usually attach the paper angel to the gift-wrapped box tucked under the ribbon with a little piece of tape securing it to the box.

One year, I was involved in a project where I inadvertently ran into someone I had helped. I know because it was something I made for them and they happened to be wearing it the day we met.

I struggled with telling them and decided not to. Part of the spirit of this season is to help others without strings attached, even if in this case they were sewing machine strings.

Charlotte