Wow, members stepped in and adopted every single family for this year’s Angel Tree!

We couldn’t be more grateful for the generosity of our members and friends. If you didn’t get to adopt a family and would still like to help, we’re continuing to collect donations and gift cards to support these households and cover any remaining wish-list items.

The annual Angel Tree Program provides presents and gift cards for students in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Program. These are children who continue to attend school even though their families may not be living in permanent housing. Often they are staying in motels, shelters, or staying with friends or relatives. For the fifth year, their family members have been included in the gift giving as financial hardships have increased in our community.

Join the tradition to help the YPN Committee lessen the burden for families this season.

Angel Tree 2025

Click How to Help a Family
Click Get Tickets
Click the blue plus symbol +
Click Check out

Please deliver all unwrapped gifts in boxes, cloth bags or sturdy gift bags NO LATER than Thursday, December 11th.

GAAR Office Hours
Monday - Friday from 8am - 5pm

Other ways you can help:

Drop off any of the following by Thursday, December 11th:

• Non-perishable Foods
• Hygiene Items (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant, toothpaste, etc.,)
• Walmart or Fast Food Gift Cards (many families are in motels without kitchens)

Make an Online Donation by Monday, December 15th:

• Make an Online Donation, go to Get Tickets, and choose a donation amount. (online donations will be used for gift cards or additional gifts to supplement a family's items as needed).

FAQs

1. Should I wrap the gifts and how should they be marked?
   Please do not wrap gifts (use boxes, sturdy cloth or heavy duty gift bags) because APS has to ensure the gifts are appropriate (e.g. no weapons or alcohol). Mark each bag with the family # & the family member's name clearly on each gift. A Sharpie marker works well. The bags are loaded on trucks and sticky notes are not secure enough.
2. Do I have to buy everything on the list?
   No. This is just a wish list for gifts. There is no obligation to buy every item on the list. However, if you would like to get more presents for the family perhaps consider teaming up with others and "adopting" the family together. 
3. Are there any rules or guidelines for how much to spend on gifts? 
   No, however, a good rule of thumb is to consider that your donation is the primary or sole source of gifts for the family. 
4. When do you need to receive the donations?
   Please bring your gifts to the GAAR Office by Thursday, December 11th. However, if you can drop them off earlier - please do as it requires quite a few delivery trips to APS.
5. Can I "adopt" a family with others?
   Yes. Feel free to get a group of friends and/or co-workers together and jointly adopt a family.
6. What if I can't adopt a family, is there any other way I can help?
   Yes! Monetary donations in any amount are always needed. Additionally, hygiene products and non-perishable food donations are always welcome,
7. Can I give used/gently used items?
   We ask that the family presents please be new and not used. However, we will gladly accept gently used children's coats.
8. Can we donate gift cards?
   Yes. Gift cards are frequently a good way to assist these families. Teenagers, in particular, appreciate gift cards to various restaurants, Starbucks, or other places that children their age enjoy and take for granted. 

Thank you for generously giving to the Angel Tree Program!

For more on the APS McKinney-Vento Program, click here.

About YPN
GAAR's Young Professionals Network (YPN) helps new REALTORS® and Affiliates to the business a chance to network with seasoned professionals to learn leadership skills and get more involved. Most YPN events are free to attend and don’t let the name fool you, if you’re young at heart --- we’d love to have you join our committee!