Optimist Club makes Christmas a little merrier with Angel Campaign
The Yamaska Valley Optimist Club’s Christmas Angel campaign is once again in full swing for the holidays. This year’s campaign welcomes new collaborations with Cowansvillebased community organization Main dans la Main, a social pediatrics centre, the Cowansville Penitentiary, as well as two businesses in Brome Lake. The Christmas Angel campaign was one of the first initiatives of the club after its charter was founded in 1999. For over 20 years, the group has provided gifts throughout the local community, particularly to youth 18 years and under, facing difficult circumstances during the holiday season.
“This year the Panier Champêtre and La Touch Finale, formerly La
Vie Sucré, in Knowlton was added to the list which includes Barnes and Dépanneure Rouge. In Cowansville you can find angels at Nettoyeur Houle and Giant Tigre and in Sutton at Pharmacie Brunet,” said Lucy Davis, president of the Optimist Club.
Davis said there is quite a demand for the Christmas Angels this year. “We are also working with the community organization Main dans la Main to identify youngsters who could really benefit. We are also working with the Centre Jeunesse here in Cowansville as well as Sutton School, Heroes Memorial, Knowlton Academy, Saintédouard, and the group homes.”
Others have come forward expressing their interest to be involved. “There is a little extra special something. Some individuals who work at the penitentiarywanted to be involved so the employees are going to have angels there too to provide gifs to people on our list. The Yamaska Literacy Council is also participating by donating books so that we can provide a book to each child on the list which is really nice. They did it last year and approached us to do it again this year.”
The campaign started out much smaller, said Davis, but she has witnessed its growth over the years and its importance to the community. “A man was looking at the angels and said oh wow this person is 17-yearsold, don’t you think he’s too old? I said well no, you know what? He wouldn’t get anything otherwise. He’s at the Centre de Jeunesse, he needs a helping hand, and it’s going to help him have a happier Christmas.”
During Covid times, the Christmas Angel campaign especially makes a difference. “Some people have gone back to work but others haven’t so it’s complicated. There are a lot of people in need out there that we are trying to help. Some of the things are totally practical that the kids asked for. Winter gloves and warm winter socks, it’s really to help them, sometimes to have better quality of life, and an easier time.”
To participate in the Christmas Angel campaign, visit any of the business establishments mentioned above to pick up a paper angel. These paper angels will indicate the gender/ age/size of the child for whom you will be getting the gift. In most cases, a description of the child’s interests is included, however the type of gift and the amount you spend are completely at your discretion.
Buy a gift, according to the specifics given on your paper angel, wrap it, and attach the paper angel to the gift using a single strip of tape so it can be easily removed later on.
on. It’s a nice thing to do.