Area Churches Donate to G.A. Family Services Foster Care Angel Tree

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Staff at G.A. Family Services held a recognition luncheon earlier this month to honor and thank several area churches for taking up monetary collections or hosting an Angel Tree at their parishes for the 2018 holiday season. Gifts or monetary donations made to the G.A. Foster Care Angel Tree Program support over 100 area children in foster care.

“We cannot thank you enough for your kindness and generosity that you and your congregations have shown to the children in our program,” said Kara Kloss, community resource coordinator for G.A. Family Services. “A lot of these children have been through some very difficult situations. Thankfully they’re in safe, loving homes now and have a community like you to wrap their arms around,” said Kloss.

The Angel Tree Program is an annual event for G.A. Family Services Foster Care. “Wishes” from foster children are placed on the back of the ornaments and hung on a tree with the help of their foster parents. Community members at the Angel Tree locations can pick an ornament and help make the wish come true for that child. G.A. Family Services staff collect all the gifts for Santa Claus himself to deliver them at a special Christmas event.

Employees at the Lutheran Home and Rehabilitation Center hosted an Angel Tree along with area churches: Seventh Day Adventist Church, St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church, Panama Baptist Church, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Bethlehem Lutheran, Bethel Lutheran, and Tree of Life Church.

“It is amazing to see and feel the love you all have for these kids,” said Kloss. “It is truly special, you are truly special, and we value the friendships and relationships we have made along the way,” she said.

Photo Caption: Representatives from the churches and G.A. Family Services staff pose with some of the gifts that were donated through the Angel Tree Program. (Back row from left) Pastor Zechariah Musselman, Jemima Stutzman, Stacey Rugg, Susan Caster, Pastor Tara Eastman, Karen Johnson, and Ericka Garcia-Allison. (Front row from left) Deb Scott, Kim McVinney, Kara Kloss, and Lawana Digirolamo.