 Honors
College continues Angel Tree
by Catherine Bahn
ASU HERALD 12/4/06 -- The day before study day
some students study while others stay up and sleep late. But every
year the Honors College Association meets to wrap Christmas presents
for children they will never meet.
"Angel Tree is really important for HCA,"
Rachel Smith, president of HCA, of Jonesboro, said. "Since
we're all from different majors in the organization we don't always
have a lot in common, but everyone likes to help out at Christmas."
This is the 11th year for HCA to sponsor the event.
On Wednesday, Nov. 1, HCA members gathered to decorate
the Christmas tree to place on the first floor of the Dean B. Ellis
Library.
According to Smith, the tree is decorated with
tiny angels, each representing a child in need. "We had a Angel
Tree making party and everyone helped decorate them," Smith
said. "On the back of the angel is the child's age range, what
they want and what sex they are."
HCA picks a different charity each year to help
provide gifts for children.
"Some members say we don't do enough, we don't
mean a lot as an organization, but you'll see members who don't
come to anything pick an angel or wrap a present. It's great to
see them getting in the Christmas spirit," Smith said.
The year HCA selected Court Appointed Special Advocates
(CASA) as its charity.
CASA's mission is to "recruit, train and retain
enough community volunteers so that every child in the districts
in foster care has an advocate to look after their best interest."
CASA provided HCA with children who wouldn't ordinarily
receive Christmas gifts.
"I don't know how bad each of these kids lives
is, but they're in the court system for being abused or neglected.
I'm sure Angel Tree is really good for them," Smith said. "Sometimes
these children get overlooked."
According to Smith, many people who adopt an angel
aren't in HCA. "A lot of faculty and staff adopt angel. Even
some church groups will sponsor the children, too," Smith said.
"I think members enjoy helping. An example
of that is the Angel Tree making party," Smith said. "We
were having waning attendance at our meetings and at the party we
had 40 people on a Monday, which was really good for us." Members
got to decorate the angels and the like to think they're helping
out, which they really are."
Unwrapped present should be dropped-off on or before
Monday, Dec. 4, in the Honors College office.
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