Tillsonburg Angels launch campaign to help children

The Tillsonburg Angels are organizing the Tree of Hope campaign, collecting toys for children in the community whose families may be facing tough times. Left to right are: Dee Tosto, Deb Corrigan, and Kelly Spencer. (Jeff Helsdon Photo)

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

A local trio of women known as the Tillsonburg Angels is hoping to bring a smile to more children’s faces this Christmas.

Organizing what they call the Tree of Hope, the intent is to collect gifts for children in the community whose families may be facing tough times.

“With our economy now, with everyone not knowing what’s happening, we’re thinking kids will be suffering, so we’re hoping we can make their Christmas better and more normal,” said Deb Corrigan, who came up with the idea.

She wasn’t sure how to organize a campaign and approached Kelly Spencer, owner of Indigo Lounge.

“Within five minutes, she said ‘Let’s do it’,” Corrigan recounted.

Corrigan enlisted the help of Dee Tosto, who has a background in graphic design, and came up with the logo and designed the promotional material. The pair both contributed to collecting backpacks through the Women of Tillsonburg and have been friends since Tosto moved to town.

The concept of the program is that people can drop off a gift, or gift card, for a child at Indigo Lounge. In return, they will receive a wooden angel Christmas tree decoration, on which they can write their name and hang it on a tree in Indigo Lounge. Donations can also be made via e-transfer to tillsonburgangels@gmail.com, and the angels will purchase a gift.

Spencer is hopeful that donors will involve their own children in the program.

“Hopefully, they will get their kids involved and show the spirit of giving,” she said.

Corrigan added she hopes this will put a smile on the face of the donor’s children as well.

Corrigan, who painted all the angels, said she has 150 angels and it’s her goal to see them all hanging on the tree. The campaign started on Nov. 12, and runs until Dec. 15. At that time, they will turn the donated gifts over to Julie Avery, who runs the Community Kitchen program at St. Paul’s United Church.

“She’s in the school and knows all the kids,” Corrigan said.

Although there are other programs to help youth at Christmas in the community, Spencer said there can never be enough.

“We have awareness of other campaigns out there, but the more the merrier,” she said. “Deb’s initiative is a grass-roots initiative and people need to get involved.”

The Tillsonburg Angels are promoting the Tree of Hope through their Facebook page. They are encouraging donors to take photos of the donation and post them on the page. Tosto then plans to put together a slide show at the end of the campaign to post on the page.

Although the Tree of Hope is in its first year, donations had already begun before its official launch. The Tillsonburg Angels are hopeful this will be a continuing tradition.