WVU Medicine, Salvation Army kick off Angel Tree Program for kids in need
Nov. 7—FAIRMONT — The lobby of WVU Medicine Fairmont Medical Center is shining brighter this holiday season.
On Monday afternoon, a tree lined with stringed lights and images of angels made its return to the facility's main entry at a lighting ceremony hosted by representatives from WVU Medicine and the local Salvation Army.
Each image of an angel also features the holiday wish list of a child in need from Marion and Taylor counties. They take part in an annual tradition hosted nationwide by the Salvation Army called the Angel Tree Program, in which community members can purchase holiday gifts for local children in need.
This year marks the second consecutive year Fairmont Medical Center has hosted a tree for the program. Fairmont Medical Center was also the first location to put up its tree this year, marking the kickoff of another holiday season of outreach.
Throughout the year, local parents in need can submit a wish list for each of their children totaling $50 or less. Then, as the year comes to a close, members of the local community can pull an angel off the tree and sponsor a child by purchasing the items on their list.
This holiday season, 520 children from Marion and Taylor counties are participating in the program — an increase of 70 children compared to last year, according to Lewis Boyce, president of the Salvation Army Advisory Council for Marion and Taylor counties.
Lewis said that increases in participation often reflect an increase in financial need among the families of Marion and Taylor counties.
"The more kids in need, the more money that needs to be provided throughout the community," Boyce said. "Everybody seems to say that the economy's up, everything's booming, but there's still a lot of people that need help."
Boyce said that he and his family partake in the program each year on the sponsor side, with his daughter pulling an angel from a participating tree to determine which child they will shop for.
"You can spend a little bit on an angel. You can spend a lot on an angel," he said. "Do whatever you can to support the community involved."
For physicians and staff members at Fairmont Medical Center, participating in the Angel Tree Program is an exciting opportunity to support the local community, according to Cari Morgan, nurse director at the hospital.
Morgan said many entire departments at the hospital come together to sponsor several children, and help spread holiday joy each year.
"The hospital is part of our community. Our employees here want to give back to the community," Morgan said. "This is the perfect partnership."
For many local medical practitioners, the main opportunity to engage with local youth takes place during moments of hardship, or by providing medical care in times of illness or injury, Morgan said.
Through the Angel Tree Program, however, hospital staff can support local youth in a way that is exciting and enjoyable for all parties involved.
"We like to do a little bit of the fun and give back to the community by providing children with gifts," she said.
Morgan hopes Fairmont Medical Center's participation in the Angel Tree Program can continue for many years to come.
"Our staff is very engaged in this event. They ask for it every year, so our employees support it," she said. "We are blessed to do so and support the community."
Individuals can get an angel wish list from the tree at the Fairmont Medical Center during the hours of operation for the main lobby of the facility: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day.
In addition to the Fairmont Medical Center, trees will be placed at the Salvation Army's location in Fairmont at 1512 Locust Ave, as well as the Walmart Supercenter at 32 Tygart Valley Mall on Nov. 18. Here, individuals interested in sponsoring a local child this holiday season will be able to receive additional angel wish lists.
Individuals who sponsor a local child have just over a month to purchase their gifts. Drop-off day for the presents takes place on Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., as well as Dec. 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Marion County Election Center, located at 4 Auburn St. in Fairmont.
Reach Jack Walker by email at jwalker@timeswv.com.
