One need not go to Heaven to find angels. Hundreds exist among us here in the Oxford/Orion area.
These angels don’t have large feathery wings or wear white robes or sport golden halos.
But they do have big hearts overflowing with generosity, love and compassion for their fellow man, particularly those down on their luck this holiday season.
The angels I speak of are the numerous volunteers and donors behind the AngelFISH program, which last week distributed approximately $23,000 in holiday gift packages to 99 local families (containing 303 individuals, mostly children) in need.
‘The need was greater this year, absolutely. But yet the donors were right there (to meet it),? said AngelFISH coordinator Judy Gage. ‘We were able to help everybody that had asked for help.?
‘It’s a miracle, this whole thing, that the community could do this.?
Organized by Oxford/Orion FISH, the AngelFISH program, now in its third year, matches local needy families and individuals with kind-hearted donors.
The clients fill out holiday ‘wish lists? for AngelFISH which passes their requests on to donors who adopt them, spending an average of $75 on gifts for each adult and child.
This year’s donors included 22 local businesses, churches and community groups who shopped for 233 needy folks plus 33 individuals and families who purchased gifts for 70 clients.
These statistics are really amazing considering Gage said, ‘Two weeks ago I had tons of client forms and I didn’t know where the donors were.?
‘I started to panic. I was getting sick to my stomach,? she said, noting this was her first year as the AngelFISH coordinator.
Although things looked bleak, Gage kept her ‘faith? and ‘Right after Thanksgiving, the telephone started ringing.?
‘It was just phenomenal. We were getting three or four calls a day (from donors) saying, ‘I want (to adopt) a family, I want three kids, I want a senior citizen.??
‘Everything worked out just perfect, absolutely perfect,? Gage noted.
Oxford Bank employees adopted 20 folks in need, while the parishioners of St. Joseph Catholic Church adopted more than 73 individuals.
Gage wished to give special thanks to Colleen Schultz, a FISH board member and St. Joseph’s Christian Service employee, who not only secured the church’s Myrick Hall as the AngelFISH collection and distribution center, she also matched parishioners with clients.
‘She did a fantastic job,? Gage said. As for St. Joseph’s, she said, ‘We couldn’t have done it without them.?
MOMS Club of Oxford adopted a family of seven who ‘arrived in Oxford a month ago? from Florida.
‘The dad lost his job. They came to Oxford because they have family here,? said FISH Pantry Coordinator Val Cass. ‘They came (to town) in a beat-up van with nothing.?
The MOMS Club bought them a crib, stroller, a kid’s bicycle, toys, clothing and other items.
‘They bought for the mom, the dad, the babies. They bought for everyone in that whole family,? Gage said.
In fact, the MOMS Club bought so many gifts, Gage said, ‘I had to call the family and tell them to bring a truck or bring two vehicles to take all their stuff home.?
Each AngelFISH gift order also included books from a drive held by the Addison Township Public Library, which collected ‘hundreds? of new and used books, according to Gage.
Although FISH supplies the volunteers and postage to help coordinate AngelFISH, the group wishes to remind everyone that none of it would happen without the donors.
‘FISH exists because of the generosity of the people in Oxford and Orion,? said Cass. ‘We just couldn’t possibly do it without them. We are so fortunate.?

Recognizing a few AngelFISH donors
St. Mary’s in the Hills
Oxford/Orion Bar Association
Oxford/Orion Kiwanis Club
Century 21 Hallmark West
Century 21 ? 217 Oxford
Chrysler
Jennings Co.
Automotive Credit Corp.
Eastern Star
Forbidden Wheels
Lake Orion Public Library
MOMS Club of Oxford
Moms Club of Lake Orion
Oxford Bank
St. Joseph Catholic Church