Angle Tree 2012

 

Another huge part of our Christmas season this year was the Prison Fellowship Angel Tree program at our church.

I have helped out in years past, but this was my first year to be the coordinator.

Members of our church provided gifts for over 80 children this year and we had a huge Christmas party for the children and their families.

Over 200 people (including volunteers) came to the party and it was a joy to see everything come together the way it did.  My heart was very full that night.

Several restaurants including La Playa Maya, Chuys (this is already my favorite restaurant in Fort Worth and their generosity made me love them even more), McAllister's Deli and the Culinary School of Fort Worth donated tons of food - enough for every family to take home to go containers!

 The children were able to take pictures with Santa and then Santa read the children The Legend of the Candy Cane.  He was the star of the night.

 Not everyone could make it to the party so I got to deliver some gifts to a few families and it was neat for the girls to be a part of that.  I tried to include Anna in as much of the whole Angel Tree process as I could and she asked me many questions about it (including asking me if I was going to go to prison :).  I pray she will have a heart to serve others as she grows.

 

There were MANY people who helped pull all of this off including my wonderful husband who did so much, but since I was ultimately in charge, it took so much of my time and energy.

There were a few times that I didn't have the best attitude about it and was resentful that I was having to spend so much time on Angel Tree when I wanted to do Christmas activities with my family (I was also overseeing a kitchen remodel in one of our Austin houses which added to my stress).

Seeing the children at the party and going into a few homes, humbled me and reminded me that this was probably the only Christmas activity that most of them would get to do and my children were getting a whole month of fun with our friends and families.  Ultimately, it was a small sacrifice on my part to serve these children and families and I was truly blessed by it.

 Here are a few memories I want to remember:

1) As the gifts were brought out to one of the caretakers, she just got overwhelmed and started weeping.  She said she was just blow away by the entire evening and had a WOW moment that night.  She grew up with her dad in prison and never had anything like Angel Tree.  She has since visited our church and said she's never felt so loved.

2)When another little boy got his presents he was so excited.  Someone from our church told him that his mom really loved him and wanted him to have those gifts, and he said "you don't understand my mom is in prison, these aren't from her".  When it was explained to him that the gifts were in fact from his mom because she signed him up for Angel Tree, he couldn't believe it and just hugged the gifts and would not let go of them.  Angel Tree provides a tangible way for incarcerated parents to give to their children which is very meaningful to the child.   

3) While Santa was reading the story, I sat down next to a 4 year old girl I'd never met.  Immediately she scooted right up next to me and was leaning on me.  I enjoyed having a few minutes to love on her.  Later in the gift line, I walked up to a little boy and asked him to show me the ornament he decorated.  He held it up and then gave me a big hug for a long time.  What precious children! 

 4) Only one home I delivered gifts to had any kind of decorations up and it was a small white tree with hot pink and purple ornaments.  I commented on how cute and different is was and the lady who lived there told me that this year, she dedicated the tree to her 7 year old niece who had passed away.  It was a simple and beautiful way to remember her at Christmas.