FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - A South Florida organization is spreading joy to children whose parents won’t be around for the holidays.
Church and community members gathered together at the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale, Sunday, to package holiday gifts for 175 children, ranging from children 5 months of age to high school students, whose parents are currently incarcerated.
The program is called Angel Tree, a volunteer-driven program from people from all over Broward County. Gifts that are donated to the organization are then given to parents a few days before Christmas. Therefore, the child believes the gifts are from his parents or Santa Claus, which “helps to preserve the magic of Christmas.”
Those who helped out also enjoyed a Christmas celebration with Santa Claus and all. However, volunteers agreed that the real treat is always the gift of giving.
“You know on Christmas morning or on Christmas Eve, they’re gonna be opening those gifts, and the cards actually come from the parents in prison,” said volunteer Jan Nolander. “It’s a way to connect a child with their parent that maybe they haven’t seen in a while.”
Each child received two gifts, one clothing item and one fun gift, which ranged from toys and books to fun jewelry and accessories.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.