Salvation Army Angel Trees bless Maricopa families

Ask any person on the street to describe Christmas and words like gifts, caring, family, friends, food, celebration and happiness are certain to be spoken.

However, there is also a dark side to the holiday for some children who wake up Christmas morning to no gifts or celebration. For the parents of these children, the thought of not being able to provide a happy holiday for their little ones causes stress and can damage relationships.

For children it can foster feelings of low self-worth.

Amy Cole hopes to eradicate those negative feelings for more than 175 Maricopa families with 500-plus children.

Cole is the local director of the Salvation Army and she has collected more than 600 gifts through the group’s Angel Tree program to help provide a merry Christmas for needy Maricopa families.

“Every child and family should have the opportunity to be happy on Christmas,” Cole said.

Cole, who has run the local Angel Tree program since the early 1980s, said that the number of families in need has increased dramatically over the past year.

“Last year we helped out about 80 families,” she said. “This year, that number has more than doubled.”

To be eligible for the program, Cole requires families to show proof of income, birth certificates and proof of residency. “We want to ensure people are not abusing the program,” she said.

Once enrolled, children fill out cardboard Christmas ornament angels stating the types of gifts they would like to receive.

Cole then places trees, with these ornaments hanging from them, in retailers across the community. People who want to participate in the program can select gift request ornaments from the trees, buy the requested present and place it in a box by the tree with the ornament attached. 

In addition to individual donations, a few large donors typically provide the majority of gifts.

“Harrah’s has adopted 120 children, Casa Grande RV Park has adopted another 120 and the city of Maricopa has donated more than 350 toys,” she said.

Some of the city of Maricopa gifts came from participants in the city’s adult sports leagues who donated presents as their entry fee into the sports program.

“When you read the gifts some of these children are asking for, it is things that we would consider basic needs,” said city adult league organizer Monica Rubio. “It is so sad. Christmas is supposed to be a happy time of year and I am just glad that we as a city can step up and help these struggling families.”

Besides toys for children, Cole also provides the families with a $35 gift card to a local grocery store. “In the past we gave out food boxes, but felt this would be easier,” she said.

While the card can buy the essentials for Christmas dinner, Cole is also gathering turkeys for the families.

“We will be handing out the toys and gift cards on Dec. 17 and are still about 100 turkeys short,” she said. “If anyone in the community could step up and help, it would be great.”

If you would like to donate a turkey or toy, or just get involved, call Cole at 520-280-8984.