By Katherine Gibson (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: November 27, 2013
Every Christmas morning, kids amped up on candy canes and anticipation wake up eager to rip open newly wrapped presents.
But not every family can afford to put presents under their trees, especially when they are also university students.
Enter Student Life’s Angel Tree program.
Geared toward supporting students with legal dependents under the age of 16 during the holiday season, this program works to ensure that these students have presents for their children come Christmas morning.
“It’s to help students with children who have unmet financial need,” explains Angel Tree co-ordinator Alicia Turner. “It’s to provide at least one gift under the tree on Christmas morning for kids who may not otherwise have something to open.”
Approximately 50 to 75 UFV students take advantage of this program. And although getting the word out is sometimes hindered by the commuter-campus nature of UFV, Student Life auxiliary programmer Rachel Knudsen believes it is the general understanding of the financial stresses that students face, as well as the generosity of faculty and students that makes this program a success.
[pullquote]“All students struggle financially… now imagine having three kids and what it’s lke to be a kid and not have much under the tree on Christmas morning. ”[/pullquote]
“All students struggle financially … now imagine having three kids, and what it’s like to be a kid and not have much under the tree on Christmas morning,” Knudsen says. “We had so much support; the students give [and] the faculty give tons … so there’s a lot of generosity … it makes a really big difference.”
Ashley Klaassen, another Angel Tree co-ordinator, notes that Angle tree encourages a sense of camaraderie among UFV students that adds to the success of this program on campus.
“We need to support each other. You have friends that you go to classes with and when you have trouble studying for exams – well, you group together and you get each other through it. I think that’s what it’s about,” she explains. “Community is the foundation of this program.”
Klaassen also believes the personalized nature of this program adds strength to Angel Tree on campus and in its ability to connect UFV to the surrounding community.
“When people walk through the door, they’re not a registration number; they’re a family that we’re helping. We enjoy helping these families,” she says. “It’s a bridge between [UFV’s] community and the outside community.”
Angel Tree gifts will be distributed during two different campus parties; one on December 3 in Chilliwack, and the other on December 5 in Abbotsford. These parties are open to all students with children, a detail that Turner emphasizes.
“If anybody has children, or grandkids, or anyone that they want to bring – everyone is welcome to attend the parties … If you’re a student with children, you’re welcome to attend,” Turner says. “It’s all about helping out [our] fellow students.”
