The holiday season is often called the most wonderful time of the year, but it can also be a challenging time for many people who lack resources to celebrate or buy gifts. In 1979, a Virginia couple, Charles and Shirley White, set out to find a way to help community members who were experiencing difficult times, and the angel tree tradition was born.
Due to the program’s impact, angel trees began to spread all around the country. Today, angel trees can be found at local businesses, shopping mall, and, of course, the parishes within the Diocese of Gary.
The idea behind angel trees is simple. An individual takes a tag from a Christmas tree that has a general description (age, gender, clothing size) of someone in need. The tag may even include a short list of desired gifts. Then the individual who picked the tag shops for a gift for that person, making their Christmas a little brighter.
St. Maria Goretti, Dyer
For over 25 years, the Angel Trees project at St. Maria Goretti has been part of the Community Outreach ministry, bringing joy and support to those in need. Bridget Cook said it’s amazing to see how much impact it has – not just on the families receiving the gifts, but also on those who give.
“The gratitude and happiness shared through this project are truly heartwarming,” she said.
Cook recently stepped into her role in July and is excited to be part of her first Angel Tree season. She said it's been wonderful to see the generosity and spirit of the parish community in action.
“Our Angel Tree reaches beyond our families in our support area; we also include some families from Catholic Charities,” Cook explained.
Each year, the number of Angel Tree recipients grows, and this year the parish anticipates helping hundreds of families through 350-400 tags. Cook shared that the success of the project is thanks to “our incredible parish community – our generous volunteers, thoughtful gift givers, supportive donors, and of course, Father Leo Gajardo.”
“Together, they help make this tradition so meaningful year after year,” she added.
St. Thomas More, Munster
This is the fourth consecutive year that St. Thomas More in Munster has offered the Angel Tree. Noreen Bickel said parishioners at the Munster parish have been incredibly generous each year, and they truly appreciate the opportunity to help make someone’s Christmas brighter.
St. Thomas More receives names of children, teens and senior citizens for its project.
“At first, I wasn’t sure how the senior Angel Tags would be received,” Bickel said, “but every year those requests are eagerly taken – and some people ask specifically for them. In fact, we’ve run out of Angel Tags every year.”
St. Thomas More, like other diocesan churches, partners with Catholic Charities to receive the names, and the organization has shared emails with excerpts from clients expressing their gratitude for the gifts.
“Reading their words is truly heartwarming,” she said. “Many parishioners tell us they wish they could see the look on their person’s face when the gift is opened, but they find real joy in knowing they made someone’s Christmas a little brighter.”
St Thomas More began by helping 140 individuals in 2022. That grew to 170 individuals in 2023, then 230 in 2024. This year, it hopes to support 250 individuals.
“People naturally want to be generous at Christmas, and this ministry gives them a simple, meaningful way to do that,” Bickel said. “It has been an easy ministry to start and run because our parish community responds so wholeheartedly.”
Holy Name of Jesus, Cedar Lake
Tracy Haskell said the church in the South Lake Deanery has been conducting its Giving Tree project for about 38 years.
“A wonderful group of sisters and many of their family members ran this before us,” she explained. “This will be the 5th year Candi Reiling and I have chaired and co-chaired this ministry.”
Haskell said the impact on the community is “wonderful. Our parishioners are amazing with all the help and generosity we receive. The spirit of giving and community support is celebrated during the holiday season.”
She explained that it usually takes two or three weekends for all the tags for the kids to be taken off the tree in the back of the church. This year it took one week. One hundred ninety tags for clothes or toys for the children.
“That fills my heart with joy and excitement for this year's project,” Haskell said.
Last year, Holy Name helped 44 families, and this year it is helping 36 families with food and gifts. It is also helping kids at St. Ann’s Center for Children. In addition, parishioners deliver poinsettias to those who can’t get out or may need a little joy during the holiday season.
“As we collect items, the generosity warms your heart,” Haskell said. “The success every year is due to the community we are in. It is all volunteers. There are many who help us every year. I wouldn’t want it any different.”
Thank you for reaching out about the Christmas Giving Trees Project.
It is a great effort that brings joy to many during a sometimes-stressful holiday season.
Queen of All Saints, Michigan City
The baby and children’s trees at Queen of All Saints have been done for at least 25 years. The children’s tree was originally sponsored through Catholic Charities as well as volunteers from Queen of All Saints (QAS). The Peace and Social Justice (PSJ) Committee,which plays an important role in the organization of the giving trees, has been in existence for at least 10 years at QAS.
“We originally partnered to assist Catholic Charities, but we eventually worked separately when Catholic Charities became regional,” explained Hannah Rebich.
Rebich shared that the Silver Bells tree was started three years ago by the leader of the PSJ Committee. This tree provides gifts to homebound parishioners at both QAS and St. Mary the Immaculate Conception churches as well as recipients at the Sacred Heart Food Pantry in Michigan City.
“The trees have been very well received by our Queen of All Saints as well as St. Mary the Immaculate Conception,” Rebich said. “Recipients of the project expect the Giving Trees every Christmas season and are extremely grateful for the outreach. With the increased awareness in the community about this project, we continually have new families reaching out to include their children.”
She added, “Furthermore, our parishioners are always eager to help others in our parish in need, and their generosity is unwavering year after year with the magnitude of gifts received.”
Last year, the parish filled 150 baby tree tags which included items such as diapers, wipes and baby clothing. It also supplied gifts for 75 children, 88 gift bags for the Sacred Heart Food Pantry, and 65 gift bags to the QAS and St. Mary the Immaculate Conception homebound parishioners and parishioners living in nursing homes. Additionally, St. Mary the Immaculate Conception church provided for 100 recipients on the baby tree and 100 recipients on the children’s tree. The gifts donated for the children’s tree went to the Toys for Tots organization.
Rebich said the Christmas Giving Trees have become a great success because the church not only targets in-need children within our parish and community, but we also provide outreach through the Baby Tree and Silver Bells tree for senior citizens.
“In the true spirit of giving, the Christmas Giving Trees project continues to be a success year after year thanks to the generosity of the parishioners in our community,” she said.
Caption: Volunteers at St. Maria Goretti in Dyer collect the angel tree information, help make the tags, distribute the tags, and collect and distribute the gifts. (Provided photo)
