ESTEVAN - The Estevan Angel Tree program received tremendous support this year and was able to fulfill the wishes of 417 local kids this holiday season.
Char Seeman with the Estevan Community Hamper Association and the Angel Tree said the campaign went amazing this year. They had some returning supporters and also new ones joining them in their effort to ensure that every child in the Estevan area has a gift to unwrap on Christmas.
"The police did their school toy drive, and the police and fire did their big toy drive. The library did a toy drive [for the first time this year]. And there were a few other places that did toy drives. And then we had our Mr. Mike's, Kessel Run Games and Walmart Angel Trees," Seeman listed.
"So, we certainly got enough toys."
Every year the Angel Tree collects Christmas gifts for kids ages newborn to 16, and Seeman said that every time they come short on teenagers' presents. So they go and do more shopping for teens and other groups that are a bit short on gifts, using monetary donations.
"We did a fair amount of shopping this year, but we had a lot of donations," Seeman said.
The hamper association and Angel Tree programs are run by the same people, and Seeman said when it comes to monetary donations in most cases, people tell them to use funds for any of the two programs. But if donors are specific about their money going to either children's gifts or food for hampers, the association is precise about following their wishes.
The program also provides parents with stocking stuffers. They also had over a hundred scarves donated for parents to pick some if they need them for their kids.
Seeman thanked everyone involved with the program and all people who donated so that they could make sure it indeed feels like Christmas in every household this year.
"I just want to say a huge thank you to the community. We couldn't do it without them," Seeman said.
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