On December 14th, 2019, over one hundred families visited The Matrix Center on McNichols and Gratiot for our annual Angel Tree, holiday gift giving and food event for families who would otherwise go without during the holidays.
Donors were able to meet the families they “adopted” by providing items on their wish list and wrapping them. These gifts were given out throughout the morning and afternoon while people ate free food in our community dining hall. Kids also had the opportunity to tell Santa their additional wishes, as well.
There was also a space for children to do arts and crafts, get their face painted, and make some cookies and other holiday treats.
Some of the gifts this year included brand new bicycles, board games, toys, clothes, and more.
For donors in particular, being able to meet the families they “adopted” was a special part of the day.
“We basically came together to do this because, it’s the holiday season, and it’s the gift giving time, and every boy and girl and family deserves a special moment during this time of the season. So, we came together and brought some, as you can see, just some general clothes donations, some boots, some toys…”
“Pretty much they gave us a list of all the things that they wanted and needed and what-not, and like I said the brothers of Phi-Beta-Sigma, we all got together, we overlooked the list, and then each one us just took on a child and took on that list, to kinda just divey out all of the ones needs. “
Volunteers from many different organizations also came together to make the event a success.
Those who received gifts were especially thankful.