Published: November 18, 2009 01:26 pm      

Volunteers gear up for Littlest Angels project

A Gainesville organization is hoping for a crowded office again this year, as volunteers begin filling the Boys and Girls club with gifts for the county’s Littlest Angels.

Melissa Hillis, chairman for the project which provides Christmas presents such as clothing and toys to needy Cooke County children said the need for assistance in Cooke County is fairly great.

She said the organization has already held a workshop for parents who want their children placed on area angel trees.

“I know things are tough for everyone, and the families are just so grateful to donors in the community who step up and provide presents for the angels,” Hillis said.

Hillis said she got involved in the project in 1984.

“It started with a promise to give an hour of my time to Littlest Angel and turned into a much larger commitment,” she said in a previous interview.

Families start the qualification process by picking up an application at the Cooke County Youth center.

Elderly individuals are referred to the project through nursing homes and other caregiver agencies.

Hillis said approximately 150 families attended the workshop.

The group is not expecting to add another workshop, she added.

Beginning soon, donors can pick up angel placards at local businesses including area banks, Wal-Mart Supercenter, Curves and the Cooke County Youth Center on Hird Street.

The angel placards contain only a first name and some physical information about the applicant such as clothing and shoe size. Some angels contain a brief wish list such as a request for a new coat or a certain toy.

Hillis said it is important that individuals who pick up Littlest Angels placards, bring the angels back even if they are not accompanied by gifts.

“A lot people pick up angels and they don’t have time to shop for them,” she noted. “It’s important that we have the angels back so we can get an accurate count how many items we have to go out and buy.”

Angels who are not chosen or who don’t receive gifts from donors still get Christmas presents. It just takes a little more effort from Angel volunteers who use donations to make sure no child she said.

She also said families or organizations who would like to shop for more than one angel can request information about sibling groups and shop for all the kids in a single family.

In addition, radio station KGAF has promised to help collect gifts, Hillis said.

She said live broadcast donation drives are set for Dec. 8 and Dec. 10.

KGAF volunteers also plan to be on hand during the annual Christmas parade to gather donated presents for the project.

“They (residents) can drop off the gifts during the KGAF remote broadcasts. Volunteers will actually come to their cars and pick up the presents. They don’t even have to get out,” she said.

Motorcycle groups set to participate in the annual Toys for Tots campaign.

Toys for Tots items also benefit Littlest Angel kids.

Donors can also drop gifts off at the Cooke County Youth Center on Hird Street.

The deadline for turning in Littlest Angels gifts is Dec. 11.

Families are scheduled to begin picking up their items Dec. 17.

For information on how to donate to the Littlest Angels project call the Cooke County Youth Center at 665-6527.