UCA’s Staff Senate announced on Sept. 30 that Angel Bear Tree applications were available for UCA and Aramark employees who might need a little extra help during this upcoming holiday season.

The Angel Bear Tree program is meant to help financially struggling families through the holidays by supplying gifts from donors and food baskets that contribute toward a holiday meal by collaborating with UCA’s food pantry.

This project is not new to UCA’s campus as the Staff Senate has sponsored the annual event for over a decade now.

“Families who have children that are receiving free and reduced paid lunch meet the eligibility to apply,” said co-chair member Kimberly Klotz. “We are also taking into consideration families who have been severely impacted by COVID-19 this year as well.”

The senate received 44 applications last year and are expecting a higher count to roll in for this year before the Oct. 27 deadline.

Once applications are reviewed and families are selected, Christmas trees with angel-shaped, hanging tags are placed in Wingo Hall, the Student Center, and the HPER for anyone who would like to “adopt an angel.”

The tags on the trees are anonymous and provide a description of clothes sizes, shoe sizes, and some interests that family members might have for guidance when picking out gifts to donate. 

“Anybody can adopt an angel,” said Staff Senate member Ashley Isom, “Faculty, staff, students, UCA’s women basketball actually adopted last year; a few campus RSOs did as well.”

Adopting a whole family versus a singular angel is an option for organizations and departments wishing to participate. 

The remaining angels who are left unpicked by the last week of November get adopted by the Staff Senate itself.

“We raise money for the leftover angels through donations, WinterFeast, and volunteer work as ushers for UCA Athletics and Reynolds Performance Hall,” said Klotz. 

The Staff Senate works with thePresident’s Office, Advancement and Aramarkthe first week of December to keep the Angel Bear Tree tradition alive during their WinterFeast holiday event.

This is where they collect a hefty amount of donations where finances roll over for next year’s project.

“We raised $5565.50 at last year’s WinterFeast. We have a very generous community – on and off campus,” said Klotz.

As for the second week of December, this is when members of the staff go shopping with the funds raised the week before to make up for the angels left behind.

The Staff Senate recommends spending up to but no more than $50 on an angel and to drop-off gifts unwrapped for final check-offs before approving families for pick-up.

“We collect the donations and distribute them in the Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center. We give families a time frame for pick-up and that is usually when they come by and conclude the operation,” said Isom.

UCA’s Staff Senate sponsorship of the Angel Bear Tree helped 42 families [93 Angels] last year through its 66 donors and generous community.

Their collaboration with the food pantry assisted 35 families with food baskets.

This year Angel Bear Trees will be available Nov. 1.