For more than 50 years, Pauls Valley’s Angel Tree program has provided Christmas gifts to children in the community who might otherwise go without. This holiday season Angel Tree will continue that mission, but with a significant change in leadership and a few new tools in their belt.
The program’s founder, Billie Hays, has decided to retire this year after 55 years of service, and local resident Wendy Boger will be stepping into the role of president for the organization at Hays’ request.
Boger and other volunteers have been working for weeks to prepare for their first holiday season without Hays at the helm.
“We have been working hard the past few weeks to modernize the program and make it more accessible. We are in the process of applying to become an official 501c3 non-profit organization,” Boger said.
Angel Tree volunteer Marisol Tracy has created a new custom logo for the program, and volunteer Janet Meave has helped translate the program’s application and other documents into Spanish. High-school student and volunteer Sydney Boger has created a website for the organization and established an email account.
Boger said, as in the past, Angel Tree will continue to partner with the Nora Sparks Warren Library, 210 N. Willow St. in Pauls Valley, to collect applications, offer a pick-up point for the community to adopt angels and a place to deliver donations and gifts.
The program serves children in the Pauls Valley and Whitebead School districts. This year’s application period began Nov. 3 and will continue through Saturday, Nov. 8.
Boger said individuals, families and businesses of all sizes from the local community have been vital to Angel Tree’s ability to meet the needs of hundreds of children each year.
“As in years past, we are only able to meet the needs of the children of the Pauls Valley community by relying on kind-hearted and generous donors,” Boger said “This year our funds are critically low, and we are in great need of monetary donations. It will take all of us to continue to meet the needs of the children in the community, so we are inviting all to please help however you are able.”
Financial donations can be dropped off in person at the Nora Sparks Warren Library, mailed to P.O. Box 1053, Pauls Valley, or made online at PaulsValleyAngelTree.com, according to Boger. Checks should be made out to Pauls Valley Angel Tree.
Angels are expected to be available for adoption at the library beginning this week, for those who would like to shop for gifts. Each angel represents the Christmas wishes for a local child and includes two requested items, valued at $20 each.
Boger said bulk donations are also appreciated for those who wish to collect items at their place of work, within their family, among friends, or on their own.
“Items we often run short on include: quality wrapping paper, gift wrapping tape, postage stamps, diapers (sizes 1-4), baby blankets, onesies (sizes 0-18 months), baby board books, small stuffed animals, gift cards, or other commonly requested gifts like make-up kits, Legos, sports equipment, art supplies, Barbies or RC Cars,” Boger said.
All donations can be delivered to the library.
There are also opportunities for those who wish to donate their time to help with tasks such as wrapping gifts. A complete list of volunteer ideas is available on Angel Tree’s website, PaulsValleyAngelTree.com.
“We want to extend a community-wide, heart-felt ‘Thank you!’ to our founder Billie Hays for her countless hours of service and immeasurable expressions of love. We invite all to join in supporting her cause for the children of Pauls Valley. If you have been blessed by this amazing program in the past, we encourage you to do what you can to help others, in whatever way you are able,” Boger said. “We thank ALL of our generous community supporters for every act of service and donation. Thank you on behalf of every child whose life has been touched through the Pauls Valley Angel Tree.”
For more information about Pauls Valley Angel Tree contact the library at 405-238-5188, or email paulsvalleyangeltree@gmail.com.
