‘Angels’ sought to help those in need

The holidays are right around the corner, and that means Emergency Aid of Boulder City and Boulder Dam Credit Union are bringing back the Angel Tree.

The tree will go up Monday at the credit union, and gifts will be distributed Dec. 17 in the basement of the Boulder City Library, 701 Adams Blvd.

Angel Tree is a program that asks residents to help a child or senior citizen in need by donating gifts so they can enjoy the holidays in ways that they could not otherwise afford. The tree is decorated with tags that show the wish list of a child or senior citizen. When a person takes a tag and donates a gift, he or she is considered an “angel.”

“The whole event is a way for the community to come together and help families in need,” said Boulder Dam Credit Union Outreach Coordinator Nancy Ward.

Anyone can take a name from the tree and donate a gift for the holiday season.

In addition to gift donations, Emergency Aid is in need of volunteers to help with day-to-day operations of the event, such as signing up people to participate in Angel Tree and distribute gifts on Dec. 17.

Volunteers who wish to donate gifts have until Dec. 9, but Helen Breeden, director of Emergency Aid of Boulder City, said they probably would still take gifts past the deadline.

Angel Tree coordinator Lori McHugh said that the best gifts to give are toys and clothing for the children and things such as stamps, clothing and gift cards for seniors.

“Everyone needs clothes,” McHugh said. “But the kids like getting toys and the seniors prefer things they can use, like a gift card to Albertsons so they can get groceries or stamps to mail a letter.”

Angel Tree of Boulder City started in 1999 and, according to McHugh, it has been a project that consistently has brought the community together.

“For years we have made this event work because of all the volunteers in the community that help create a great holiday for kids and seniors in need,” McHugh said. “The community is always more than willing to help, and because of them we get a lot of donations.”

Volunteers looking to help can sign up at any point between now and near the end of the program.

For more information or to volunteer, call Emergency Aid of Boulder City at 702-293-0332.

Contact reporter Max Lancaster at mlancaster@bouldercityreview.com or at 702-586-9401. Follow him on Twitter @MLancasterBCR.