LFS kicks off annual Angel Tree campaign

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on November 16, 2024.

Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman LFS Angel Tree Campaign's Michelle Gallucci becomes emotional while receiving a donation from Ron Tyslau with Avonlea Homes on Friday during the Angel Tree Campaign kick-off event.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

Lethbridge Family Services kicked off their 32nd annual Angel Tree Christmas Campaign Friday alongside with their presenting sponsor Avonlea Homes which presented them with a significant contribution this year.

Ron Tyslau from Avonlea Homes opened presented Michelle Gallucci, director advancement & communications with LFS with a cheque for just over $30,000 during the kick off ceremony after providing those in attendance with a few words.

He began by saying that it takes a village to make it happen and he was happy to share that his village has continue to grow in the last few years. And thanks to the support from the various trades that work with them in a regular basis, they were able to raise the funds donated this year.

“When we began five years ago, our village had 11 trades. Our village has grown to 47 trades with a desire to give back to the community,” said Tyslau.

Sandra Mintz, CEO of LFS spoke about the Angel Tree Campaign after the gift was presented and said that thanks to the support from Avonlea Homes and the community as a whole they are able to continue to provide joy to children during the Christmas Season.

“I am gobsmacked with such donation. From the bottom of my heart thank you so much. I love the trades, my children are in the trades, my late husband was in the trades and now I love the trades even more,” said Mintz.

She said in 2023, Angel Tree served a record 4,253 children ranging from zero to 18 years of age, which was possible thanks to 527 volunteers who worked tirelessly six days a week, to bring the campaign to life.

 “Angel Tree is a $400,000 program having gifts and having funds powered by the love and generosity of our community. Within the first week of the campaign, we registered nearly 1,000 children in the first week. This really tells you a lot about the need that’s out there,” said Mintz.

 She said this year Angel Tree volunteers have already bundled over 1,500 gifts for families in need and when she asked their reception staff Thursday how many kids were on the list, she was told 2,000 were already registered and it is only the beginning of the campaign.

“Angel Tree stories have deeply moved me. They speak to the incredible strength of the human spirit and the resilience we find even in our darkest moments. We have a profound and positive impact on the families we serve, no matter how overwhelming the adversity they face,” said Mintz.

She shared some of the stories and one of them was about a mother who recently left an abusive relationship and is living in a motel with her son and told LFS her son would be happy with anything, she is saving to get him a phone, but the most important thing right now is to fees safe again.

 “An eight-year-old girl says they had to leave everything behind when they came to Canada. She misses her friends the most, but maybe she could get a purple bike so she can play with the other children who have bikes and make new friends in her new neighbourhood,” said Mintz.

 She also shared a story from a grandmother who is raising her three grandchildren after their mother, her daughter, passed away.

 “She wrote, last year’s gifts brought light into our home when all we felt was darkness. Since their mother passed, I’ve done everything I can to keep their spirits high. But your program gave us more than just presents, It gave us hope, happiness, and memories that were filled with laughter instead of tears,” said Mintz.

When talking to media after the event, Tyslau said that even though they started contributing to the campaign in a small way back in 2020 with gift baskets, which slowly turned to financial donations resulting in close to $80,000 within five years, they continue to help because in part is human instinct to want to do so.

“I believe that everybody really does want to help. We build in each community, let’s support the community in the city. The momentum just keeps going, so as long as the momentum is there, we’re going to keep going,” said Tyslau.

He said they just truly want to be able to put a smile on over 1,500 children this year and even more to come and that is something that continues to drive them to donate.

“I have six grandchildren and I see them opening a gift and I just see their smile and I can’t imagine parents who are struggling or a single mom, or a single dad struggling and not being able to do that for their children because food is first. That’s part of the drive, because I do see the happiness that brings in a very difficult time,” said Tyslau.

For members of the community who wish to donate to Angel Tree, they can do so by dropping new unwrapped toys to the Angel Tree depot located at 108- 920 2A Avenue North, across the parking lot from Service Canada, or can donate online at https://www.lfsfamily.ca/angeldonate.

People can also pick an angel from the various trees located at different businesses and organizations across the city and dropped them off there as well. For information on those locations and ways to get involved with the Angel Tree campaign visit https://www.lfsfamily.ca/angeltree