The Cranbrook and area 50+ Angel Tree Project has launched its second year of giving for older area residents.

The project is a community Christmas gifting program, born of a conversation on the Facebook group ‘Paying it Forward – Kindness in the Kootenays.’ It is offered by a group of strangers… caring community members who came together with support from Cranbrook Better at Home to share the joy of Christmas.

Instigator, Amy Oakley, began the discussion in winter 2018 after seeing a similar project in a seniors care home.

“I thought we could expand on the idea, because there are so many people who are still living in their own homes,” said Oakley. “It turns out there were a lot of people who wanted to help make it happen. We easily gifted 79 people last year.”

Better at Home senior support program helped get the project off the ground with planning tools graciously shared by Tamarack Centre and Rotary Cranbrook Sunrise (organizers of the long-running Children’s Angel Tree).

Laurie Harris, Better at Home Coordinator said, “this is such a wonderful way to reach out. Even more special this year because of the COVID challenges we’re all facing.”

The group expects to gift well over 100 people this year, and has already received more than 50 nominations. Harris added, “we’ll gift as many people as donors allow. We have an amazing team of “elves” ready to wrap and deliver in time for Christmas!”

Nomination forms can be picked up and dropped off at Cranbrook Save-On, Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce, or Cranbrook Family Connections (beside Memorial Arena).

Community members who want to provide gifts can pick an “Angel Card” off the Angel Tree at Save-On- Foods or make donations directly to Better at Home.

The group welcomes nominations from outside of city limits and will happily share its planning tools with any others who want to start their own Angel Tree.

“Last week we forwarded all of our paperwork to an agency in Logan Lake, so that they can easily launch their own project,” said Harris, “one of our goals is to empower Angels everywhere!”

Forms and information can be downloaded HERE or reach out through Facebook @CranbrookBetteratHome. Phone 250.426.2943.

Cranbrook Better at Home is delivered by Community Connections Society of Southeast BC (Non-Profit Society #S-0017571. Registered Charity #12863 9234 RR 0001).

Cranbrook Better at Home

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