Holidays can be a stressful time for families struggling to meet basic needs. The Love Life Foundation’s Angel Tree program helps ease that burden by connecting generous community members with McKinney ISD children who might otherwise go without gifts. Donors select an “angel” from the tree to fulfill their wishes or make a monetary donation for Love Life to fulfill the wishes of unselected angels, ensuring a brighter holiday season.
Julie Williams, co-owner of Texas Property Sisters, has been a longtime Angel Tree supporter. “My business partner, Monica, and I have participated in donating to the Love Life Angel Tree for many years now,” she says. “We typically purchase for a bunch of the kids as well as recruit others in our area to participate. We like to focus on selecting a whole family or two to make sure that all the kids in that family are taken care of.”
Julie appreciates how local the effort is. “The program is a wonderful way to help families in McKinney ISD who need help in fulfilling their children’s wants and needs. We love that it's local McKinney families being supported,” she explains.
Community members can easily sign up to help. When the holiday season approaches, Love Life Foundation posts information on their website, social media and at the Love Life Market inside the Guitar Sanctuary in McKinney. “You just go to a website and pick which child or family you want to buy for. It lists their wishes, needs and sizes," Julie explains.
For McKinney ISD liaison Wanda Johnson, the Angel Tree program is a vital resource. She says, “Since 2011, I've been a community liaison for two middle schools in McKinney ISD, working directly with underserved students and families who need assistance at Christmas and throughout the school year.”
Wanda explains that the program primarily benefits single-parent households or families facing sudden hardship. Love Life representatives work with school counselors and administrators to identify children in need. “MISD and Love Life Christmas Angel Tree have had a long-lasting partnership working together to help our families during tough times,” she adds.
According to AJ Micheletto, marketing director at Love Life Foundation, the Love Life Foundation is the only local agency whose Angel Drive specifically supports MISD middle school children and their families.
"Each year, the program serves more than 300 children, an effort valued at approximately $75,000," shares AJ. "Typically, the community adopts about one-third of these children, and the Love Life Foundation ensures that the remaining children are supported through monetary donations and fundraising efforts."
For families who want to become recipients, information is distributed directly through MISD.
Programs such as Angel Tree do more than provide gifts. They build community spirit. “Helping our neighbors is important for our community to stay strong and be a great place to live,” Julie says.
“The Love Life Angel Tree program is a great way to do that.”
Wanda agrees, noting how the program “provides new clothes, shoes, toys and necessities for children in need during the holiday season. It helps alleviate financial stress for parents who struggle to provide gifts and offers the community a meaningful way to give back.”