The Kiwanis Club of Cicero held its annual “Angel Tree Roadblock” on Nov. 18. The Angel Tree Program is a long-standing Christmas tradition (since 2006) of the Hamilton Heights School Corporation to help ensure all children within the district can open a gift on Christmas morning.
“I am one of the biggest kids of all when it comes to Christmas,” Club President Todd Clevenger said. “And the thought of a child waking up on Christmas morning and not having a gift to open breaks my heart. The Kiwanis Club of Cicero does a lot of great things throughout the year, but helping the school district with this phenomenal program is by far, one of my favorites. We’ve heard from people who want to give back, because they themselves have been recipients of the Angel Tree Program. One man told us that he was homeless, but wanted to give what he could because of all the kindness he has been shown by members of our community. And another community member sought out one of our student Key Club volunteers and handed her $175, saying, ‘the Holy Ghost compelled me to bring this to you.’ Is this a great community or what?”
Households wishing to participate in the Angel Tree program complete a form with the names, ages, gender, and interests of children under 18 in the home. Each school building sets up at least one tree and places tags with the children’s ages, gender, and interests on tree. Members of the Heights community then take a tag and shop for the children, based on the information printed on the tag they selected.
The money that community members donate to the Kiwanis Roadblock goes towards funding any tags remaining on the trees which program committee members then take and go shopping for the children listed.