Each month, Castle Country Radio likes to spotlight an organization within our community working to better the lives of the residents of the Castle Country Area. This month, we celebrate the holiday spirit provided by the United Way of Eastern Utah and their Angel Tree program. To speak on the program, Castle Country Radio was joined by United Way Executive Director Pam Boyd.
Opening our conversation, Boyd explained the mission of the United Way,” the United Way’s mission is to mobilize the caring power of the community. And you can’t find a better example than Angel Tree, because we provide the framework. That’s what United Way does. We give people the opportunity to then step forward and mobilize and help their neighbors. And at Christmastime, people do it in a big way in this community.”
Applications for the Angel Tree closed on Nov. 22, a day which Boyd described as “chaos,” but she also explained that although this deadline was listed on the application, they would still accept submissions to participate,” we do not believe that kids should go without Christmas presents. The reason why we have that early application is that sponsors then can get their kids and they can go out and buy the gifts. So really, that application deadline is set to make it easier for sponsors,” she continued,” Now, having said that, we will continue to accept applications for the next couple of weeks. You know, there comes a time, probably that week before Christmas that we do have to cut it off because we just have no ability to move forward,” adding,” The goal of this program is every kid gets Christmas presents.”
Boyd then dove into how to get involved with the Angel Tree,” right now, while the Christmas tree Regalia shop is open at the old Sears building, there are Angel Trees set up there. And you can go in there and pick an angel. You can buy one present or you could buy 20 presents,” explained Boyd,” as the season progresses, you can also get angels from Eastern Utah Community Credit Union, who has an Angel Tree set up. And there will also be one set up at Price City Hall.”
Next, Boyd explained how and where to return these gifts,” we ask people to go ahead and if they wrap their gift, to put the angel on top of it like a gift tag so we know who that present goes to. Or if you don’t have time to wrap them, bring them back and the various sponsors of the Angel Tree have wrapping parties.” Boyd added,” then you deliver it back to the SERDA building, and they will get those out to the individual families.”
In addition to adopting angels from the tree, Boyd described some other ways you can get involved with the program,” I would reach out to Clampers, reach out to the Kiwanis, the hospital or the credit union to see if there’s anything you can do in terms of wrapping or delivering. You can also call me, of course at 435-637-8911 or email liveunitedatuweu.org, And if I can put you to work, you bet I will put you to work to help out with the program.”
In closing, Boyd shared,” I just want to say a huge thank you. Thank you to the community for supporting this effort for so many years. Right now we’re sitting at about 300 kids in the program. Last year we did a total of 378 kids. So we’re going to bust through that record this year.”
For more information on the United Way of Eastern Utah, you can visit its website here.