The Chit-Chat-n-Chocolate Women’s Ministry has launched its 5th annual Adopt An Angel program, a holiday tradition that brings Christmas cheer to residents in area care facilities.
Angels are displayed inside participating Marshfield businesses, each representing a resident and listing a few of their wishes or needs. Community members select an angel, shop for the items, and return both the angel tag and the gifts to the business where they adopted it.
“Our angels each represent a resident and some of their wishes or wants or needs,” said Christy Davenport, who helps lead the ministry. “You just adopt the resident, shop for them, and return the angel and the gifts. Then we pick them up and deliver everything to the facilities.”
The ministry will visit two facilities on December 13 and two more on December 20. Local students will also take part in the visits by passing out handmade Christmas cards and singing Christmas songs before gifts are delivered. Davenport said local children created 420 cards this year.
She noted that the fourth graders at Shook Elementary have become an important part of the effort.
“They do a coin drive, and then they take twenty angels and shop for them and wrap them,” Davenport said. “I’m very happy the school reached out and involved those kids. The residents really enjoy the kids being there.”
The program serves residents at Marshfield Care Center, WebCo Manor, Marshfield Place, and Strafford Care Center. They're sure to include Strafford because many Webster County residents live there as well. Last year, the program served around 225 residents, and Davenport expects the number to be similar this year.
Angels are currently available at H&R Block, American Family Insurance (Katie Mathis), and Sports Shack on the Square. Davenport said some locations have already run out, but new angels appear as facilities take in new residents. If angels are unavailable in stores, community members may contact her directly at 417-241-5601, as additional angels are often available toward the end of the program.
The Adopt An Angel program was originally started by Michael and Christina Glidewell when they owned Marshfield Fitness. After the business was sold, Christina asked the Chit-Chat-n-Chocolate ministry to take over the tradition. Volunteers now helping facilitate the program include Davenport, Doris McFarland, Halley Milam, Emily Roberts, Shirley Starnes, Nella Jones and Roberta Vasquez, along with Shook fourth grade teacher Lacey Replogle and her fellow teachers and dozens of volunteers.
All gifts must be turned in by December 10 so volunteers can ensure every resident is adopted before deliveries begin on December 13. The angels are displayed individually inside participating storefronts. Be sure to pick one up next time you're out!
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