Submitted photo Children who could benefit from holiday gifts are included on an angel tree, located at the Elkins-Randolph County YMCA. This annual tree is made possible by public volunteers and coordinated by Youth Health Service and the Elkins-Randolph County YMCA.

Submitted photo
Children who could benefit from holiday gifts are included on an angel tree, located at the Elkins-Randolph County YMCA. This annual tree is made possible by public volunteers and coordinated by Youth Health Service and the Elkins-Randolph County YMCA.

ELKINS — Once again, the Elkins-Randolph County YMCA and Youth Health Service are working together to provide Christmas gifts for needy local children through the sixth annual Angel Tree program.

Area community members are invited to adopt an angel from the tree to ensure local children have a joyful Christmas.

And the program has grown this year, with 122 children being helped this holiday, up from 77 children last year.

“We’ve seen a greater need this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jennifer “J.J.” Johnson, director of the Home Ties Strengthening Families Center located at YHS.

The Youth Health staff refers area children up to age 16 for the program, and the YMCA places an Angel Tree in the Y’s lobby, where area residents have the chance to choose a tag to buy Christmas presents for the kids.

No identifying information about the children is provided to the public, but the YMCA is provided with each child’s age, clothing sizes and information about his or her interests.

Each child is assigned a number, which is given to the YMCA. The number is written on a tag, which is then placed on the Angel Tree.

Individuals or groups can then choose a tag and buy presents for that child. The presents are labeled with the number assigned to that child.

Members of the community volunteer their time to wrap the donated gifts. Once wrapped, all presents are then taken to YHS to be delivered to children or picked up by their guardians.

The presents then come to Johnson, who turns the presents over to the Youth Health Service staff member who referred the child. The presents are then either delivered to the children, or they come to YHS to pick up the presents.

“The angel tree is an annual tradition and the need is greater than ever!” an Elkins-Randolph County YMCA social media post states. “We appreciate all our amazing members and friends of the Y who make this happen each year!”

Donated gifts are due to be turned in by Dec. 18, the post states. For more information, contact 304-636-4515.