This holiday season some Fayette students will receive gifts that will truly make a difference in their lives.

For the seventh consecutive year, the Fayette County School System’s CARE (Children at Risk in Education) program is sponsoring an angel tree at the LaFayette Educational Center (LEC). What makes this angel tree different is that instead of collecting toys and gifts for needy children, it fulfills nontraditional needs such as hearing aid batteries, after school program scholarships, home repairs, band instruments, extra curricular activity fees and eyeglasses, to name a few.

Referrals for the tree are identified by school-based CARE teams. They are screened by CARE team members at the county office to make sure they meet certain requirements, one being that the family is employed but unable to afford to meet the needs requested.

“There is a sad situation at one of our elementary schools with a single working parent who can only afford to pay half of her child’s school lunch. She earns too much to qualify for free and reduced lunch but not enough to cover the daily expense," says Karen Spangler, CARE coordinator for the school system and organizer of the angel tree program. “Her story is just one of many that adorn our angel tree this year.”

As the community grows, so does the number and type of requests. Spangler says a change she has noticed this year is requests from grandparents who are raising their grandchildren on fixed incomes and 17 and 18 year olds who are self-supporting and need help with food and clothing.

The angel tree is getting assistance this year from Holiday Helpers to help ensure that every request is fulfilled. Monetary donations are requested since many needs are service-based. Gift cards are also needed for food and clothing. No money is ever given directly to families. Instead, donations are used to purchase the needed items or services that have been identified by the family and confirmed by the school’s CARE team.

The angel tree is located in the lobby of the LEC located at 205 LaFayette Avenue in Fayetteville. Residents can drop off their donations at the LEC. For tax deduction purposes, checks can be made out to Holiday Helpers. Donations are requested by December 14 in order to distribute them to the students before the holiday break but they will be accepted after the holidays to help children throughout the year.

The angel tree program began as a way for employees at the LEC and county office to connect with the needs of students in the schools. Employees have generously helped fulfill angel requests over the years and in the process have helped hundreds of students enjoy a more rewarding and fuller academic experience.

 “Participation in activities makes school more meaningful for children. It nourishes their spirit and enables them to use their gifts and creativity. No child should have to forgo these opportunities because of money,” says Spangler.