Volunteers gear up for Littlest Angels project

Local News

Guest Book

November 18, 2009

By DELANIA TRIGG, Register Staff Writer The Daily Register Wed Nov 18, 2009, 01:27 PM CST

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.

Text Only

Local News

Gainesville PD joins 'Click It or Ticket' campaign
The 2012 national “Click It or Ticket” seat belt enforcement
mobilization began Monday to help save lives by cracking down on those
who don’t buckle up.

May 24, 2012
Don't let food poisoning ruin your holiday
As with all holiday feasts, Memorial Day cookouts may carry a
heightened risk of food poisoning, depending on the “hows and whats”
of the meal.

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Education Award Winners
Staff photo by Greg Russell
Gainesville Daily Register Publisher Jim Perry (left) and Assistant
Editor Delania Trigg display awards recently granted to the newspaper
for coverage of education. Perry holds a “Community Member
Recognition” award, granted by Gainesville Independent School
District; and Trigg holds a “School Bell Award,” presented by the
Texas Retired School Personnel Association.

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Gainesville PD joins 'Click It or Ticket' campaign
The 2012 national “Click It or Ticket” seat belt enforcement
mobilization began Monday to help save lives by cracking down on those
who don’t buckle up.

May 24, 2012
Tallying continues in Gainesville hospital board election
The tallying continues for administrators of the May 12 Gainesville
Hospital District election — who have scheduled a recount for 2:30
p.m. today in the North Texas Medical Center boardroom.

May 23, 2012
Hirings and kind words fill GISD board meeting
Hirings and commendations highlighted Monday’s regular Gainesville ISD
Board of Trustees meeting.

May 23, 2012 1 Photo
Additional Cooke County sentencings released
Jeremiah Johnson Jarvis, convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly
weapon, was sentenced to seven years probation and fined $1,500, plus
$253 in court costs.

May 22, 2012
Letter carriers collect tons of food for VISTO
A Cooke County benefit organization currently has another several
thousand pounds of food to spread among families in need, thanks to
collection efforts by the Gainesville Post Office.

May 22, 2012
'Pink ladies' now seeing red at medical center
For the first time in their history, North Texas Medical Center
Auxiliary members are wearing red.

May 22, 2012 1 Photo
Eclipse over Lake Ray Roberts
Sunday evening’s partial annular eclipse of the sun is shown here as
seen from the Lake Ray Roberts shore during sunset.

May 22, 2012 1 Photo
More Local News Headlines

Who do you think will win the Republican nomination for President?

Local News

Search Results

Guest Book

Volunteers gear up for Littlest Angels project

Who do you think will win the Republican nomination for President?

Site Map

Contact Us