Prospera Credit Union recently collected gifts for youths in need through their 11th annual Youth Angel Tree Project.
Trees were set up at the two local Prospera branches, which featured tags with holiday wishes from youth connected to the Archway Youth Resource Centre. Prospera members and staff purchased the gifts and then staff assembled and wrapped the gifts.
“This is our favourite time of the year as we get to see the youth light up with excitement when we deliver their presents,” said Brandy Sundstrom, a youth support worker at Archway.
“We’re so grateful to Prospera and all of the people who make this happen. Thank you for bringing joy to so many of our clients each Christmas season.”
Kristyn Thomson, regional director and branch manager on the West Oaks branch of Prospera, said the Angel Tree Project is something that employees and members look forward to every year.
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“We absolutely love taking part in this program year after year as these kids are aged out of most other holiday gifting programs. It’s so rewarding to do something special for these youth,” she said.
“After the holidays, we receive personalized thank you letters from the youth. It brings tears to our eyes every year. The appreciation these kids have, and the renewed faith in community, really warms the heart.”
Sundstrom said Christmas is “an extremely difficult and lonely time” for many of the youth, who often live on their own or are homeless and do not have family to spend the holidays with.
Gift suggestions included grocery store gift cards, cleaning supplies, clothes and books. One youth just wanted socks, so Sundstrom took them shopping for socks so they could request a “real present.”
“I don’t think people realize how much these gifts can mean to youth,” she said. “It’s not just getting something that they couldn’t afford; it reassures them that there are good people out there who care about them.
“When we tell them about the gifts, the youth often feel like they don’t want to take a spot away from another youth. They don’t feel like they deserve anything, and these gifts are just one of the ways to help build self-esteem and confidence.”
The program began in 2011 after Prospera met with Archway Community Services staff and realized that there was an unmet need in providing Christmas gifts for youth.