The Prince Edward County community once again came together this season and ensured it will be a Merry Christmas.

Hundreds of people, scores of local businesses, services groups and organizations once again contributed to the Angel Tree program facilitated through The Children’s Foundation.

Janet Reader Day and Hanne Simoes present Angel Tree organizer Sue Rose with quilts from the Prince Edward County Quilter’s Guild. (Submitted Photo)

As one would expect in this time of high cost and inflation, the need was great in Prince Edward County.

All told, 305 angel tree forms came through the office at Benson Hall and program organizer Susan Rose said all managed to be filled and sent out to families over the past two weeks.

The number was an all time high for the program.

“I’m really proud of the way the county folks have come together and made sure it will the good Christmas for the kids this year,” Rose told the Gazette. “We had people coming in regularly to see if there were more angels on the tree and were asking if there was anything else they could do.”

Making contributions to the food boxes that are part of the program was an option for those who wanted to keep contributing to the program after filing an angel request.

As is the tradition, PECI students from both elementary and secondary classes took part in the program. Angels are physical objects with the name, gender, age, and interests of a child that people in the community will buy gifts for. These gifts are given anonymously and help less fortunate families give their children something to look forward to over the holidays. 

The Angels this year at PECI were organized by teacher Colleen Galway. 

Galway offered insight on the past results of this program.

Members of the Picton Firefighter’s Association make a delivery to the Angel Tree office. (Submitted Photo)

“Last year we helped about 50 kids and we actually completed all the Angel’s they had left that year,” Galway said. 

This year PECI had taken about 30 angels and they were distributed to classes across the school.  Students then went out and purchased items based on the interests the angel had listed. 

These items were then wrapped and sent off to be delivered to the families. This took place starting on November 14th and gifts were delivered on December 12th. 

“I really couldn’t be successful without the help of PECI students and staff,” Rose added. “The kids always seek to get it and you can tell they really care.”

Rose added was grateful for all the organizations who pitched in, particularly the Picton Kinsmen who allowed the use of the hall as a staging area for intakes and gift storage as well as Picton’s Foodland and store owner Jamie Yeo for efforts in sourcing goods for the food baskets.

“Everyone, every service club, every organization and business, every person that came through our door to give this year, we needed you more than ever and you came through. Thank you,” she said.