The Columbia County Angel Tree at Southern Arkansas University will be accepting donations and sponsors of area children through Dec. 14, said Sandra Martin, dean of housing.
Martin said University Housing has been coordinating Angel Tree for the past three years. She said the number of “angel children” so far this year stands at 440, exceeding last year’s 320 children. More than 170 Columbia County families are represented on this year’s tree.
She said that during Thursday night’s Celebration of Lights ceremony, seven children were selected from the tree. The Magnolia Junior Charity League chose 68 children Friday morning, she said, and the First Presbyterian Church selected 15.
People can come to the SAU Housing office at Reynolds 208 to select an angel from the tree. The office is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Schools, individuals, families, churches, businesses, civic organizations, and SAU’s own student organizations contribute annually to the Angel Tree. The program aims to make the holidays a little happier.
“It feels so good to make sure so many kids get a present for Christmas,” Martin said. “No one wants to think Santa doesn’t like them.”
Lillie Wright, student housing specialist, has been involved in Angel Tree since it came to SAU. She said “community involvement” is what makes the program special to her. “It’s amazing, the people who want to help. It makes you feel like you’re part of a family. And the SAU family is part of that, too. There is a sense of family and community coming together. If you can help someone have a better Christmas, why wouldn’t you want to do that?”
Angel sponsors are encouraged to spend around $50 per child. For those who cannot afford to sponsor an angel, any gift or money contribution will be appreciated. Donations can be mailed to 100 East University, MSC 9431. Checks should be made out to SAU, with “Angel Tree” in the memo line.
The Angel Tree serves children in need from infancy through high school seniors by providing sponsors with information about each child’s age, gender, sizes and gift requests. It also serves as an economic engine to the local economy. Even conservative estimates suggest that sponsors donate more than $40,000 in clothing, toys and electronics every year.
Since 2008, the Angel Tree has been at SAU. From 2008-2013, it was co-coordinated by two student organizations – Lambda Alpha Beta (the Chemistry Club) and Sigma Tau Delta (the English Honor Society). For the past three years, it has been headed up by University Housing at SAU. For several years prior to 2008, the Magnolia Housing Authority coordinated the county’s Angel Tree efforts.
