Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

With Christmas quickly approaching, the Buckingham Recreation Department is hoping to get the last bunch of angels claimed for their Angel Tree. 

Every year, businesses and organizations across the country set up Angel Trees. On these Christmas trees are “angels” people can adopt and shop for to help meet different needs for the holidays. These needs can include toys, clothes, food and more. These families and individuals register through social services to get some extra help for Christmas.

For the tree at the Buckingham Community Center, there are just 23 angels left for this year. With only a small amount of time left, they hope that a few more community members will stop by to bring smiles to their neighbors this year. 

“Children and adults in the community are in need and we like to see smiles on Christmas morning,” said Todd Shumaker, director of recreation. “This is a great community effort to help meet the needs of struggling families.”

Not all of these angels are for children and toys. Some of the angels on the tree are parents and senior citizens who also have needs this year. According to Shumaker, one parent who only asked for food.

The catch is that there isn’t a lot of time left to claim these angels. All items need to be turned back in at the community center by this week, at 16268 N. James Madison Highway, Dilwyn. From there, social services will come to pick up the collected items and deliver them to the families. 

Crunching numbers for the Angel Tree 

This year is the community center’s second year participating with Angel Tree. This year they started with 103 angels with 29 senior citizens. 

“We started last year and moved a little over 80 angels,” said Shumaker. “We wanted to continue because we’re in a good location and it’s good for the community.”

For anyone not able to participate this year, Buckingham plans to continue the tradition next year. Anyone interested can mark their 2024 calendars to keep a lookout around the first of November to grab an angel or two and help someone in need next holiday season. 

Anyone looking for more information can call Shumaker at 434-969-4242.