LLU School of Allied Health Professions Provides Gifts for 100 Kids Through The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program

Faculty and staff from Loma Linda University School of Allied Health Professions (LLUSAHP) provided gifts for 100 disadvantaged kids through The Salvation Army Angel Tree programs for the tenth year in a row. The Salvation Army picked up the gifts — which consisted of toys, games, DVDs and electronics — at the school on Dec. 17. “This was an opportunity for our team to make a family’s Christmas as memorable as possible, despite their inability to buy their kids gifts,” said Jackie Gilstrap from LLUSAHP, who coordinated the Angel Tree program this year. “The response we got from the faculty and staff exceeded our expectations and every child represented on the tree will be getting gifts.” The Salvation Army Angel Tree is a holiday program designed to raise gifts to assist families who are in crisis as a result of medical issues, unemployment, homelessness or other difficult circumstances and who otherwise would not have the resources to celebrate Christmas. A small Christmas tree was displayed in the school’s office of admissions for three weeks. It was decorated with 100 paper angels — 50 blue for boys and 50 pink for girls. Each ornament represented a child and had a tear-off portion on the bottom that provided the child’s name, age and a short wish list. Gilstrap continued, “Those individuals who adopted a child either bought gifts or provided money for the purchase of gifts. Because of the generosity of those who participated, all 100 kids represented on the tree will have a memorable Christmas.” The gifts provided through the Angel Tree program will be given to the parents, unwrapped. “It’s important for parents to be able to experience the joys of the holiday season,” said Captain Patrick S. Lyons, corps officer for the Salvation Army Redlands Corps Community Center. “Something as simple as wrapping a gift for their child can be an escape from what is most likely a challenging time of year, whatever their circumstance may be. Christmas is very special to the Salvation Army and me. My goal is that no kid has to wake up on Christmas morning needing an explanation for an empty tree.” Families can apply for consideration in the Angel Tree Program and are pre-selected by the organization prior to the holidays. Companies, families and other groups can participate as donors in The Salvation Army Angel Tree program.