Because of the generosity of area churches, businesses and individuals, 236 families will benefit from “Angel Tree" gifts and holiday food boxes distributed by Catholic Social Services in Robertsdale this Christmas.

The program provides names of families in need from all over the county and specific items that are needed such as clothes, toys or shoes and places them on Christmas trees in different churches, businesses and in the CSS office, according to Michele Prockup, CSS director.

“Each child in the family will receive three gifts just like the baby Jesus did and the family will get a big box filled with food like a turkey or ham and other items for Christmas dinner. The parents have to have custody of the children to receive the gifts though,” Prockup said.

Families began registering at the end of October and came in and met with their caseworkers or volunteers. Late registration was on December, 6-8. Prockup said they will also take late late registration by appointment only up until December 17 by calling the CSS office.

Distribution dates are Wednesday, December 15 for Loxley families, Thursday, December 16 for Robertsdlale families, Friday, December 17 for all other family locations and Monday, December 20 for late families.

All gifts will be given out at the CSS “Christmas” building behind the main office on Hwy. 59 in Robertsdale, Prockup said, with 20 to 25 volunteers helping to “make Christmas happen.”

And sometimes there are “special” families (17 so far ) consisting of four, five or six members who have unique circumstances outside the norm, Prockup said, that require individual sponsors to provide for their needs. These families are contacted by Prockup and they come and pick up their gifts individually.

“We have a lot of good going on in our county and great people to help us out. I never worry about donations. We are always blessed by those who give to our programs. We are busy but it’s a good busy and we enjoy it,” Prockup said.

In addition to the “Angel Tree” gifts, The Ladies of Charity organization, consisting of 12 Catholic Churches throughput the county, come together each year to fill Senior Bags for Christmas.

Working through CSS, 32 ladies gathered at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Ronertsdale on Wednesday morning to fill 175 bags full of goodies for those senior citizens who are lonely, in need, disabled or homebound.

Peggy Peterson of CSS and Joanne Stewart, president of The Ladies of Charity, said this project started over 20 years ago in Bay Minette with 20 to 25 bags and has grown steadily over the years.

“There is such a need out there and each auxiliary group has certain items they collect throughout the year and bring and amazingly, we never seem to have duplicates. Each bag has different items,” Peterson said.

Tanger Outlet Mall and Old Navy donated the bags for the project and each one has various items like socks, blankets, fruit, candy, cookies, hot chocolate, shampoo, puzzles and other things seniors may enjoy, Peterson said.

“We try to make them as festive as we can with red, green and white tissue paper and then they will distributed today and tomorrow to different agencies like CSS, Council on Aging, The George P. Thames Senior Center and others who have people in need, “ Stewart said.

The goal for next year is 200, Stewart said, and she has no doubt they will reach that goal. “We had 170 last year and I am sure it will increase each year. We are so glad to be able to reach out and help our neighbor and I am so thankful to the ladies who come and help us out each year with this,” Stewart said.

Sponsors who make the “Angel Tree” and “Senior Bags for Christmas” possible are: St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, St. Benedict Catholic Church, St. John Catholic, Magnolia Springs, Our Lady of the Gulf catholic Church, St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Lawrence Catholic, Fairhope, Baldwin EMC, Summerdale, Ciba/Specialty (McIntosh), Christ the King Catholic Church, Daphne, Loxley United Methodist Church, St. Thomas-by-the-Sea catholic Church, Lillian, St., Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church, St. Patrick Catholic Church, Robertsdale United Methodist Church, The Grand Hotel staff, Pt. Clear, Huntsman Industries (McIntosh), Riviera Utilities and Hub City Lion’s Club.

For more information or to make an appointment, call CSS at (251) 947-2293.