Angel Tree is back at the Apothecary in St. Joseph
With the help of staff members in the school district, St. Joseph Women's Community Club goes to work to help Santa spread the joy of the Christmas holiday and put smiles on the faces of kids in St. Joseph thanks to the warmth and generosity of their friends and neighbors. Last week, the local organization that has been serving the community for 68 years, set up the "Angel Tree" at the St. Joseph Apothecary in downtown St. Joseph hoping to make this holiday season a little brighter for families throughout the village.
"We get names of families from the schools, we talk to the family and get ideas for gifts and sizes on clothes, the community buys the gifts," Brooks Bennett-Miller told The Sentinel last week. "The Women's Club wraps the gifts and organizes for the families by child. We provide a ham and all the necessary items for the family to prepare a holiday dinner with sides and dessert. Plus, we buy each child a pair of holiday pajamas."
She said each family also receives an El Toro gift card and a Casey gift card for gas.
"The families are always so appreciative," she added. "When the parents come pick up their gifts and meals is so heartwarming as they are often overcome with emotion on what the community has come together to do to help a fellow neighbor."
The way the Angel Tree works is anyone willing to help can stop in the Apothecary and choose an ornament for a child who lives in the community. The donor purchases the item listed on the ornament and brings back to the store. The buyer simply deposits the unwrapped gift into a box next to the tree with the receipt and ornament attached to it by 1pm on December 12.
The Women's Club will take it from there. The ladies will sort and wrap the gifts for each family and deliver them along the food basket to enjoy a wonderful holiday dinner.
For those who would like help but are unable to shop, they can make a monetary donation for any unclaimed ornaments or towards the food baskets by calling Bennet-Miller (217) 474-1068. The Women's Club can also be reached by message via Facebook or by email at sjwcc61873@gmail.com. Any member of the Women's Club will gladly help collect your donation or answer any questions.
"This has been a tough year so what better time to be an Angel to someone else?"
America is ready for cheer, brightness and hope
By Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator
When I was a child, I thought Christmas would never come. The weeks dragged by while I wore out the toy sections of the Sears and Penny's catalogs hoping Santa might stop by. I always looked for Santa Claus and tried to stay awake on Christmas Eve just to catch a glimpse of the jolly big guy.
Typically, I would see him at the five and dime store or G.C. Murphy's. I always had a list longer than Santa could carry. However, Santa typically managed to show up with something on Christmas thanks to hard working parents who loved Christmas and giving as much as they could.
The anticipation of Christmas was an adrenaline boost as a child. The hopes and dreams of what might come or be always was exciting. The downtime came when late on Christmas day I had to reconcile that Christmas wouldn't happen again for another year. I dreaded seeing the Christmas tree and the outside lights come down. Christmas was always a good winter mood boost. My dad didn't put a lot of Christmas lights up outside but the ones he did put on the house always seemed beautiful and filled the outside air with cheer, brightness and hope.
America is ready for some cheer, brightness and hope and it's coming.
Santa Claus won't be dropping this down the chimney but it's coming soon via your local medical care provider. This one is on its way via pharmaceutical company Pfizer and biotechnology company Moderna Millions of doses of a vaccine for Covid-19 are ready to be released. This vaccine is not coming too early for a country that has been paralyzed by sickness and death.
While the release of these vaccines is coming in record time it's still too late for many. Millions of Americans have been blindsided by this ugly disease that took their lives. People are sick today and desperately need this medicine. For all of us it cannot come soon enough.
Business owners, restaurants, schools, churches, families, factories, the travel industry and old fashion family gatherings are more than ready for these miracle drugs that will hopefully save us from Covid-19.
Americans are living in anticipation of a lot this December. Millions are hoping for a job, an unemployment check and a roof over their heads. They are hoping Congress will get their act together and approve one more stimulus package.
Many Americans this year dread Christmas because they don't have any money and life is filled with worry and uncertainty. For them, life is dragging by and better times can't come quick enough.
While this Christmas is still going to be tough there are some lights burning. We will get through this in America and our vaccines will not only turn America around but it will help millions of others in other nations as well.
The lights are going to get brighter for 2021. Some real cheer, brightness and hope are coming. Let's get through this safely and plan one big Christmas celebration for next year.
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When I was a child, I thought Christmas would never come. The weeks dragged by while I wore out the toy sections of the Sears and Penny's catalogs hoping Santa might stop by. I always looked for Santa Claus and tried to stay awake on Christmas Eve just to catch a glimpse of the jolly big guy.
Typically, I would see him at the five and dime store or G.C. Murphy's. I always had a list longer than Santa could carry. However, Santa typically managed to show up with something on Christmas thanks to hard working parents who loved Christmas and giving as much as they could.
The anticipation of Christmas was an adrenaline boost as a child. The hopes and dreams of what might come or be always was exciting. The downtime came when late on Christmas day I had to reconcile that Christmas wouldn't happen again for another year. I dreaded seeing the Christmas tree and the outside lights come down. Christmas was always a good winter mood boost. My dad didn't put a lot of Christmas lights up outside but the ones he did put on the house always seemed beautiful and filled the outside air with cheer, brightness and hope.
America is ready for some cheer, brightness and hope and it's coming.
Santa Claus won't be dropping this down the chimney but it's coming soon via your local medical care provider. This one is on its way via pharmaceutical company Pfizer and biotechnology company Moderna Millions of doses of a vaccine for Covid-19 are ready to be released. This vaccine is not coming too early for a country that has been paralyzed by sickness and death.
While the release of these vaccines is coming in record time it's still too late for many. Millions of Americans have been blindsided by this ugly disease that took their lives. People are sick today and desperately need this medicine. For all of us it cannot come soon enough.
Business owners, restaurants, schools, churches, families, factories, the travel industry and old fashion family gatherings are more than ready for these miracle drugs that will hopefully save us from Covid-19.
Americans are living in anticipation of a lot this December. Millions are hoping for a job, an unemployment check and a roof over their heads. They are hoping Congress will get their act together and approve one more stimulus package.
Many Americans this year dread Christmas because they don't have any money and life is filled with worry and uncertainty. For them, life is dragging by and better times can't come quick enough.
While this Christmas is still going to be tough there are some lights burning. We will get through this in America and our vaccines will not only turn America around but it will help millions of others in other nations as well.
The lights are going to get brighter for 2021. Some real cheer, brightness and hope are coming. Let's get through this safely and plan one big Christmas celebration for next year.
Dr. Glenn Mollette is a syndicated American columnist and author of American Issues, Every American Has An Opinion and ten other books. He is read in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization.
This article is the sole opinions of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of PhotoNews Media. We welcome comments and views from our readers.
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