Angel Tree Project Gives Back

Looking for a way to give back to your local community? The Angel Tree project is back at Plymouth State. Their first day of tabling was November 20, where the volunteers set up all the cards available for selecting. Each card lists an anonymous child and their Christmas wish list.
"Angel Tree is coordinated out of the Community Service Center, so I've been involved with it since coming to PSU in 2007.  The program has been running annually since the mid/late 1990s," said Linda Corriveau, the program's head.
The process works as follows: pick out a card, purchase or donate something that the child requested, wrap the gifts, and return them to HUB room 123 between December 9th and December 13th, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Volunteers will then pile the gifts, organized by their destinations, and send them to the children in time for the holidays.
Volunteers have been managing a table in the HUB for the past three weeks. "Our volunteer base is always PSU students, but in regard to people who choose Angels, it is all over the place.  Faculty and Staff probably provide for 1/2 of the angels, but young people (including PSU students) account for the other 1/2," said Corriveau.
Participants have the chance to pick out a card from the tree. Each card states the gender and age of a local child, and their needs, wants and wish list for the holiday season. The program asks that participants purchase only what they are able, and are not required to buy everything on their list. "I often hear stories of faculty and staff members' kids choosing an Angel that is the same age or with similar interests as they have," said Corriveau.
Names are not included on the cards in order to keep the process anonymous. Children from local schools and programs sent in these requests from Plymouth Elementary and High School, Campton Elementary, The Beckett House, and many more. The kids vary in age from young infants to high school.
Student volunteers are very excited about the project. "I think the most rewarding thing will be bringing the gifts in, seeing the expressions on everyone's faces" said Shannon Snively, a senior.
"My favorite thing is the fact that I am helping children, and it's interesting because we don't have these kinds of things in my country," said Ibrahim Tarbiyyah, a student-volunteer.
With such enthusiasm from volunteers, Corriveau says that the people participating in the project find much joy in it as well. "My favorite part is seeing how much fun people have taking part.  They enjoy the overall experience from selecting an Angel, to wrapping it, and bringing it back. I think they know they are providing holiday cheer for someone else," said Corriveau.
Corriveau also commented on the importance of this project and how it directly benefits families in the area. "For many families who are struggling financially, Angel Tree provides gifts and necessities when the family may not be in a place to do so.  While many of the kids request a toy or other items they can play with, many are in need of warm clothes, socks, shoes, school supplies and personal hygiene products. Those are the ones that really illustrate how much need there is in our community.  The Angel Tree Project also allows PSU to give back to the community and that is something we value as a whole."