Angel Tree program needs your help to bring Christmas to Quinte families

By Jessica Schmidt

BELLEVILLE – The Children’s Foundation’s Angel Tree is back, but a lot of help from the public is still needed to make sure all local families get a taste of Christmas. 

Every year the foundation runs the holiday program in which staff collect wish lists from families in need in Hastings, Northumberland, and Prince Edward counties. People from the community can “adopt” a child whose name is on the Angel Tree – in the form of an angel – and buy Christmas gifts for that child. 

Kaitlyn Saseniuk, the program and marketing co-ordinator for the foundation, says the goal is to make sure everyone gets to enjoy the magic of Christmas.

“You don’t have to decide between putting food on the table and getting your child a gift at Christmas,” she said. “We can keep the holiday spirit alive for you. And in the process, our sponsors and donors also get to be a part of that holiday magic.”

Each family that applies submits a wish list to the foundation, Saseniuk explained. The average total of the gifts requested is $75. Donors can either shop right from the list, or donate cash and have the foundation do the shopping for them. 

This year the Children’s Foundation is also including a hamper filled with non-perishable food to be sent to the families. Each hamper has the same items, with an average value of about $60.

Once all the donated gifts have been brought in to the Children’s Foundation office on Dundas Street West in Belleville, Saseniuk said, it becomes like Santa’s workshop as staffers wrap the gifts and get them ready to go out to the families.

The Children’s Foundation Angel Tree program poster. Courtesy of the Children’s Foundation

The need has increased this year due to families struggling with inflation and the higher cost of groceries, Saseniuk said.

“The Angel Tree program is incredibly important for the community and we’ve seen a huge need for this program, especially this year. Everybody needs help this year.”

The foundation received more than 360 angel applications by the time of the Dec. 1 deadline, Saseniuk said. But more than 250 angels are still not adopted, and around 100 food hampers not yet filled.

The foundation hopes to have everything collected by the end of next week, but it is open to extending the deadline for anyone wanting to get involved, she said.

Dwayne Stacey, who works at Highland Shores and has been a donor to the Angel Tree program for over 10 years, said that this year especially it’s great to ensure all children get to enjoy Christmas.

To adopt an angel or donate to the foundation, you can call 613-962-9292 and speak with Saseniuk.