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The Holiday Season is upon us and many area charities are doing all they can to make sure that boys and girls in the Keweenaw have a Merry Christmas.
A Calumet organization is seeking sponsors to participate in their gift giving efforts.
New Beginnings Angel Mission is a nonprofit organization in Calumet that has a unique holiday gift giving program.
Director Terry Bazin said, “Right now, we have over 250 kids signed up. People will come in and ask to sponsor a family, and then purchase the gifts and then bring them back and we call mom and dad and they pick them up. We fill everybody by Christmas Eve.”
The program works kind of like a Secret Santa.
“The community comes out and helps people in need. It’s a great time to come out and help people,” said Cal McCarty, Offensive Center from Michigan Tech’s football team, who recently spent the day volunteering with teammates to help get the program underway.
The Angel Tree was started a few years ago and the program has also received participation from local businesses such as River Valley Bank, who has an angel tree in their lobby and is seeking sponsors for the program.
“Volunteers can come and choose an angel off of our tree and bring their gifts back to River Valley Bank,” said Jamie Thyrion, a manager at the branch, who encourages volunteers to stop in and find out more.
Interested participants can obtain more information by contacting River Valley Bank at (906) 337-0200, or New Beginnings Angel Mission in Calumet at (906) 934-3602.
