During Christmas, churches, schools, local businesses, and the community come together and help kids and teens get things they want and need for Christmas. The Salvation Army is one of many businesses that have an angel tree program. You can grab a tag with a kids name on it, then begin shopping.  The kids usually ask for toys, clothes, hygiene items, etc.

This helps families who cannot,  afford to get their kids’ stuff for Christmas. On the tag, the kids write about their age, name, shoe size, clothing sizes, and gender.

Sometimes Angel trees are not only for kids, but they sometimes can also be for animals in shelters, elderly people, or families who are not financially stable enough to buy things for the holiday season. Since this has been a trend the numbers for angel trees have gone up.  

Mrs. smith, a teacher at Weir High, has been a part of this at Weir High for a long time. Her classes take part by giving a donation to Mrs. smith, then also have an opportunity to buy gifts themselves for the children.  When talking to Mrs. smith I asked what this benefits “the four parts of this is character and service” she says this “it’s character because we help those in need.” The importance of doing is “children who weren’t going to have a Christmas are going to have a Christmas.” A question that is asked a lot by kids is why they ask for such expensive things “the answer is because they believe in Santa.”