The Angel Tree is making its third annual appearance at Mission's Envision Financial.
The local credit union is displaying a decorated Christmas tree with angel ornaments, each representing a child, youth or senior in the local community. The public is encouraged to take an angel from the tree and return it with a new and unwrapped gift to any participating location by Dec. 8.
All gifts and/or cash donations collected will be given to Mission Community Services Society's Christmas Bureau and Food Centre. In addition to selecting an angel off each tree, beginning this year, people also have the option of selecting a tin can ornament off the tree, and returning it with a non-perishable food item or cash donation.
“One in five children in B.C. live under the poverty line and this year alone, B.C. food banks served over 28,000 kids. That’s why we are so proud of our Angel Tree Program," said Susan Byrom, manager of corporate citizenship at Envision Financial. "In 2011 our Angel Tree program gave 600 Christmas gifts to residents in our local communities and this year we want to give even more.”
This year, Envision has created a video to share the message of the Angel Tree program which can be viewed at www.youtube.com/envisionfinancial. For every view, Envision will donate $1 to the Angel Tree program (up to $10,000) which will then be distributed to the program’s community partners.