This holiday season was filled with extra joy due to the success of the 2019 Angel Tree! The third annual Angel Tree was a way for the community to fulfill our client’s wish list by picking a tag off of the tree and donating a gift. This year German American Bank hosted the Angel Tree again, and each of their branches displayed our clients’ wishes. Our clients got together at a small office party with hot cocoa and sugar cookies and our staff helped them to make their list out. We encouraged our clients to think about things that would help them get out into the community, such as: gift cards, movie tickets, or bowling passes. The clients also asked for things they wanted or clothing they needed. Members of the bank and other community members enthusiastically picked tags and fulfilled wish lists. We are so grateful to note that every client received everything on their wish list this year!
This Angel Tree is really unique, because it provides gifts for a group of people who typically don’t have any other opportunity to be included. Our clients are mostly adults with developmental disabilities, and all other Angel Trees generally target kids. Many of our clients enjoy Christmas as much as you may remember being excited to wake up Christmas morning and check under the tree to see what surprises were there. For most of our clients, family, friends, and staff are able to help them have a wonderful holiday. For those that are on our Angel Tree list however, typically family isn’t involved their lives. That’s why this Angel Tree is so special to them, and the community coming together to help them have a warm and joyous holiday is so very meaningful to each and every person who participates.
The trees have now been displayed at German American Bank for 2 years in a row. German American generously provided support and helped to make sure each wish list was fulfilled. This year, however more people from the community came into the bank to choose wish lists to fulfill. We were humbled by the outpouring of support of people who weren’t clients or employees of the bank who came in just for the Angel Trees. We also want to thank our friends at Down Syndrome Family Connection who came together to help fulfill many of the wishes.
