Every year during the holiday season, UFV’s Student Union Society (SUS) brings cheer and support to students through their Angel Tree program, which provides gifts to students who have children under the age of 16. This year, registration opened the first week of November.
The Angel Tree program began in 1979 in Lynchburg, Virginia. It was started by Lt. Colonels Shirley and Charles White, who collaborated with a new shopping mall for The Salvation Army’s Christmas Kettle Campaign. The pair were offered a Christmas tree display that they used to hang angels — children people could buy gifts for — with children’s clothing sizes for people to support.
Shirley White explained that they were inspired to take on this initiative to help children who wanted to wear new clothing back to school after the holidays. This display later resulted in 472 children receiving clothing, with the initiative continuing to expand, with millions of kids getting support.
Bilal Faisal, SUS vice president of students, explained the Angel Tree program, the registration process, and how to sponsor an angel.
“We ask UFV students who are a parent … [to] submit any wish that their child has.”
Faisal clarified that these wishes can range from toys to chocolate bars. SUS will then take the requests and post them on their website.
Faisal shared that the SUS Angel Tree project has been occurring at UFV for six years. The two requirements to apply are to be a current UFV student and that your child is 16 or under. Once accepted, the wish is collected by SUS and added to their website so anyone can choose to sponsor a child and buy them a gift.
“You see all the angels … their names, how old they are, and what their wish is. So that’s how you select them … One person fulfills one wish for that person.”
SUS implemented drop-off locations for gifts on both the Abbotsford and Chilliwack campuses for those who choose to sponsor an angel. The wish drop-off is open until Dec. 4, after which the SUS team sorts and prepares them to be picked up on Dec. 10 – 11.
Faisal, who has been part of this project for two seasons, mentioned that, in 2024, 198 students registered, out of which 186 were accepted, as 12 did not meet the pre-established requirements.
“Sometimes, when they don’t match those criteria, that’s when we have to, unfortunately, reject those applications.”
By Nov. 22, 171 out of the 186 angels had already been sponsored, and with only 15 left, SUS expected to meet their goal on the week of Nov. 25. This was indeed achieved on Nov. 27. Faisal mentioned that meeting their intended goal has been achieved in past years, too.
“[In] 2023, we sponsored 159 angels, and all of them were sponsored … [in] 2022, we sponsored 253 angels. That’s the thing: the project is just going on and on, and it’s such a big project.”
Faisal also shared his appreciation for the Angel Tree project and how much it helps the students who signed up.
“It’s a great way to give back to the community in [the] holiday season, and it takes the burden off the parents because they are students as well.”
On the SUS website, parents of past angels shared their appreciation and gratitude for the project and the people who contributed to the cause.
“Thank you so much for the gifts for my children. I have been struggling financially as I am an older student with two kids trying to better my life. School has been extremely hard on the family and these gifts were the only gifts Santa brought my kids this Christmas,” said Deanna.
Overall, these successful and heartwarming projects advocate for a unified community.
