Hill Air Force Base, UT – The Hill Air Force Base Angel Tree program has concluded its most successful year yet. This year's program saw a record number of more than 1,200 gifts collected, organized, and distributed to military families.
The program, which is facilitated by the base chapel, is entirely organized and run by civilian and military volunteers from the base and local community. Recipient families are nominated by their unit first sergeant and the distribution of gifts is also handled by first sergeants.
This year, 277 military children from 130 families were the beneficiaries of the Angel Tree program. Each child received toys, pajamas, socks, and underwear.
Despite rising costs of living, the Hill AFB community generously filled every gift card from the program’s two tree locations. The program began using two trees three years ago. One tree is always in the base chapel and a second one in the base exchange.
Volunteer Angel Tree coordinator Geri Carrier said that she looks forward to the program every year and noted that many of the returning volunteers have made it part of their Christmas tradition too.
The Angel Tree was created by The Salvation Army in 1979 to provide clothing and toys for children at Christmas through the support of community donations.