Past recipients pay it forward for Angel Tree

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on January 7, 2023.

Herald file photo Campaign director Michelle Gallucci says Angel Tree helped 3,571kids this Christmas.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

As the Christmas Hope Campaign wrapped up, Lethbridge Family Services looked back on their 2022 Angel Tree campaign and reflected on the many families they were able to help over the holidays.

Angel Tree campaign director, Michelle Gallucci, said they were able to to help 3,571 children get a little something under the tree this Christmas, with deliveries taking place up until Christmas Eve.

“It was 300 more children than we helped the previous year, and my husband, my son and I delivered all the way up to the night of the 24th,” said Gallucci.

She said the reason why a do that is because they have emergency families that they delivered to and had to make bundles all the way up to the day before Christmas.

“It was a very memorable situation and the whole campaign was just so engaging. I have never experienced in the seven years I’ve done Angel Tree, this level of commitment of the volunteers,” said Gallucci.

She said they had approximately 270 volunteers who put in almost 4000 hours in a nine-week period.

“Our volunteer drivers went to Coaldale, Coalhurst, Taber and Picture Butte. We had four shifts running per day, all the way up until 8 at night and weekends and the commitment that this took to get this many bundles done is extraordinary,” said Gallucci.

She said that even though at one point or another they were worried about being able to have enough toys to bundle, they never worried about being able to finish the bundles on time.

“It was a really good year, and some of the stories that we heard of need, but also of hope and success were great. We have now met and connected with so many adults, 19 and over, that were themselves recipients of Angel Tree in the past,” said Gallucci.

She said many of their volunteers last year were previous recipients of donations at Christmas time in the past and they came back full circle to give back.

“A lot of volunteers were telling us their stories and I can’t tell you how it warms your heart to know that they were recipients and that they truthfully said to me that it was the best Christmas ever, because they couldn’t believe the community offered them such happiness for their Christmas,” said Gallucci.

She said they also had volunteer drivers that were recipients and wanted to give the gift bundles to the families.

“They want to be spokespersons next year because they want to tell their story and tell these families that have such need that there’s absolute hope for the future,” said Gallucci.

She said another story worth sharing was of a family she delivered to on Christmas Eve, as their reaction gave her hope for the future of the campaign itself.

“We gave them gift cards for food because their situation was quite dire, and they texted me on Christmas morning and said ‘when we can, we’re going to pay it forward’ so that was cool,” said Gallucci.

She said that it was good to know they have built some resilience into the program, because their goal is to see people thrive, to get back on their feet and to not have their recipient list grow. If anything, ideally, they want to see their list shrink.

“I loved that they said that (family) because it’s not just about giving and giving, it’s about the whole experience and we want people to get on their feet,” said Gallucci.

She said another full circle experience this year was through donors, with some saying they were recipients of a gift-giving program, not Angel Tree, but that was the reason they decided to give to Angel Tree.

And even though the season just wrapped up, they are already looking ahead to Angel Tree 2023, using some of the leftover money to buy a few things to have a baseline for the next campaign.

“We already have purchased blankets for next year, we have already started to purchase art supplies and craft supplies with leftover money as things are on sale right now,” said Gallucci.

She said registrations open in September for the Angel Tree Campaign 2023.

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