Angel Tree Question

**Surilda** · 12-07-2009, 12:36 AM

I found out today that my city doesn't have an actual Angel
Tree that you choose an angel from. You go to J.C. Penney
and choose your angel there. I chose an 85 year old female.

There were 12 of them for my area, and there were no wants
listed at all. All 12 of them had a sweatshirt and sweatpants
as their need. This didn't sound right to me. It seems like
that must be a basic thing chosen for them? I am to drop
off my gifts at the Salvation Army. Is this what you normally
do? I will be getting more than that basic need, but now I
am wondering if the senior I chose will actually get what I
buy or the gifts will just be distributed to who they think needs
them.

Maybe this is how it works. I guess I thought it would just
be more personal. Like I said, I had never heard of it until
the post the other day, but loved the idea and really wanted
to adopt a senior.

Just wondering how it normally works and if what I wrote
above is the usual.

**imagine** · 12-07-2009, 03:23 AM

I'm sure if it is through the Salvation Army that it will go to who they say it will. That your senior will get your presents. You could always call the Salvation Army and ask them your questions. I;m sure they wouldn't mind answering them.

Here is how the Angel Tree works where I live.

The Angel Tree we have through the Salvation Army is for children only.

You pick a angel and return the present wrapped back to the place you took the angel from. The Salvation Army then picks up the presents there and distributes them.

**2ndGenGranola** · 12-07-2009, 06:21 AM

I know a lot of seniors in nursing homes do want sweats. They are more comfortable and manageable than other clothing items. They also survive the laundry better.

**Neeley** · 12-07-2009, 08:46 AM

I feel confident the SA will get the gifts to the actual person who requested them.

If you want to get them something "extra" I have noticed many of them will ask for things like a blanket, books, magazines, candy, toiletries, etc...I have only seen one wish list that had anything more and that particular person asked for a small radio.

Don't forget, you can also add a Christmas card with a special "Merry Christmas" message. That can really mean a lot to a lonely senior, just knowing there is a real person behind the gifts that thought of him/her.

**PrairieRose** · 12-07-2009, 10:43 AM

In our area they say DON'T wrap the gifts.....but they do go to the angels that they are designated to. It's a lovely thing to do.....

**Surilda** · 12-07-2009, 10:54 AM

Thank you for your answers! I guess things are the norm,
but it was the same answer from all twelve that threw me.

I can certainly understand now sweats being easy to deal
with for them.

I found some super SOFT mohair socks and I am
getting three pairs of those also. The card is a good
suggestion and I am getting a Christmas tree ornament.

Not sure what yet, but want to get a few little personal
items.

**Nana2two** · 12-07-2009, 11:50 AM

Just a word of caution, make sure any socks you get have the rubber grips on the bottom. Alot of nursing home will not allow any other socks if they don't have the rubber stuff on the bottom. Which makes scence..

**mommynurse** · 12-07-2009, 11:59 AM

I like the idea of giving an Angel Tree gift to a senior! I would think they'd be ones who are left out. Our Angel Tree only has kids.

**WV_mom_of2** · 12-07-2009, 02:37 PM

I live in a very small town area. The angel tree here is for children only. They are all children from our county. You take a card that has the sex of the child, the age and a number that they use to identify the child later to give them the gift. That is all. One thing I hate about it is that there is no list of wants or needs.

You are suppose to buy a gift that costs around 15.00. You wrap it and tape the card onto it and return it to the store. They have a big party here for all the kids and Santa hands out the gifts.

**JenMarie** · 12-07-2009, 03:07 PM

Interesting how the angel tree program is different in different places. Here, I have only seen them for the children. The angels have the child's first name, age, sex, clothing sizes and a a few wants. Our church does a tree and everyone picks an angel and buys what they choose and returns the gifts to the church. Then they are delivered to the SA for distribution.

**Sara Noel** · 12-07-2009, 03:16 PM

This is the information that was emailed to me.

JCPenney has helped bring the Salvation Army Angel Giving Tree online through jcp.com/angel, where customers can purchase a needed gift for a child or senior citizen in their community. Customers can now adopt an Angel at www.jcp.com/angel and conveniently shop for needed gifts. Angels can be chosen by location, age range and gender. Once the Angel is chosen, customers will receive an e-mail with a list of needed items. In collaboration with FedEx Ground, Angel Giving Tree gifts purchased through jcp.com can be shipped free of charge to any of the 1,200 Salvation Army collection centers nationwide.