Thanks to a local charity and its generous donors nearly 200 children in the Oxford/Orion area will wake up to presents under the tree Christmas morning.
‘I think this Christmas is the best one we’ve ever had,? said Judy Gage, coordinator of the AngelFISH program, now in its third year.
Conducted by Oxford/Orion FISH, a local charity which provides food and financial aid year round, AngelFISH is a holiday gift program that pairs needy children ? ranging from newborns through 17-year-olds ? and their Christmas wish lists with eager donors.
This year more than 72 individuals and families along with 28 groups, churches and businesses donated tons of toys, clothes and gift cards to brighten the holiday season for 192 children from 92 needy families served by FISH.
‘The gifts that have come in have just been phenomenal,? Gage said. ‘We had asked each (donor) to spend somewhere around $75 (per child). I would say about 99 percent of these gifts that have come in have exceeded that limit.?
The gifts were distributed to the families Saturday morning.
Tables stacked of extra toys ( or ‘bonus gifts? as they were called) could be seen inside Myrick Hall at St. Joseph Catholic Church Thursday and Friday while more than half the floor was covered with carefully organized piles of gifts to fill 192 wish lists.
‘The donors have really come through again,? Gage said. ‘They’re purchasing more and more things and better gifts.?
One lady who had collected Barbie dolls her whole life donated 25 brand new ones still in the boxes.
Thanks to Oxford resident Jan Overly’s generous spirit and the 123 full-size blankets she purchased and donated that same number of teenagers, ages 12 through 17, will keep nice and warm this winter.
Thirty small children will keep the chill off this season with fleece blankets made by Delta Kappa Gamma, an professional honorary society of women educators.
Although Gage is grateful for everyone’s generosity and kindness, it doesn’t surprise her.
‘No matter what we do, whether it’s the food drive or the (school) backpack program, whatever we’ve needed, this community has always come through,? she said.
AngelFISH donors were especially generous this year because it was the first time the program was strictly for children age 17 and under.
Previous years included gifts for adults, but given FISH’s adult cliental has increased significantly due to the state’s poor economy and donations have not kept pace with demand, a decision was made in September to have the holiday gift program focus solely on children to ensure they all had a merry Christmas.
‘We have found the donors are so much more receptive to only (giving to) the children,? Gage said. ‘They say that’s the way it should be.?
FISH’s adult clients felt the same way.
‘We never had one complaint from any of our clients when we told them it was strictly children this year,? Gage said. ‘The adult clients said, ‘That’s fine. I don’t need anything. Make sure my kids get everything.??
Gage wanted to thank the 35 volunteers who came to Myrick Hall to carry, sort and distribute all the gifts over the three-day period.
‘None of this could happen without them,? she said.