OCHS Angel Tree provides donations to animals during holiday season
The Angel Tree at the Oktibbeha County Humane Society helps to spread Christmas cheer to the animals at the shelter.
“We have this tree each year during the holiday season, and people can come in and pick out a wish list from the tree,” OCHS Outreach Coordinator Sarah Buckleitner said. “If you can’t make a monetary donation, it’s a great way to support the shelter. You pick up a wish list off the tree, go to the store and purchase the items and then bring them back to the shelter whenever you get a chance.”
Each wish list has a specific animal’s name on it and a list of what that animal needs and items that the shelter in general needs including cat and kitten food, dog and puppy food, toys, treats, blankets and towels, hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies.
“We try to make it fun for the animal and include items that the shelter really needs,” Buckleitner said.
The Angel Tree also has wish lists for more generic needs, such as a newborn puppy or OCHS’s Cat Colony
The Angel Tree has been successful in the past, Buckleitner said, and many donations have already been brought to the shelter this year.
“Often they will pick an animal off the tree, and then they will want to go in the back and meet the animal in person,” she said. “It’s really fun, especially for kids, and it helps to teach them a lesson in generosity during the holidays. The kids usually have a blast shopping for their animal and bringing the donations back.”
Buckleitner said next year, OCHS plans to expand the Angel Tree program with trees in several locations throughout Starkville, so people can pick a wish list from several different places and bring the donations into the shelter.
For the first time this year, OCHS also has an online Christmas wish list on Amazon. A link to their Amazon wish list can be found at www.facebook.com/OCHSMS/