MSC Aggie Leaders of Tomorrow Collects Gifts for Salvation Army’s Angel Tree

MSC Aggie Leaders of Tomorrow (ALOT), a freshman leadership organization of the Memorial Student Center at Texas A&M University, will once again participate in the Salvation Army’s annual Angel Tree Christmas gift drive for underprivileged children in the Brazos Valley. People who would like to make a donation can visit the 12^th Man Hall in the Memorial Student Center, or the lobby of the Commons in the south side residence hall area from 9am-5pm, Monday through Friday, from November 14^th through the 26th. MSC ALOT members will staff tables at those locations where people will be able to “adopt an angel”—a child in need—and drop off donations.

According to Katherine Dash, a freshman member of MSC ALOT, the organization’s goal this year is to provide gifts for 600 children in the Brazos Valley. If they reach that goal, ALOT will have exceeded last year’s high water mark or providing gifts for 500 children. For those unfamiliar with how Angel Tree operates, Dash says that donors can stop by one of the Angel Tree tables and select a card representing a specific child in need. The card will include the child’s name, age, gender, and a brief list of gift ideas. ALOT representatives will record the card’s identification number and the donor’s name. Donors are then asked to return the card, along with any gifts they purchase for the child they have selected, back to the ALOT tables by November 26^th.  Gifts should be unwrapped.

Last year the Salvation Army needed several vehicles to transport all of the gifts selected by MSC ALOT, and Dash and her fellow committee members hope that will be the case again this year. As noted by Mac Vu, the lead Angel Tree organizer from last year, people’s willingness to participate seems to have gone up in recent years as the collection of gifts growing at the Angel Tree tables inspires other passers-by to participate.

Organizers have created a Facebook event to help keep people interested in participating updated on the program's details and status.