The Chapel Assistants mark their 12th Project Angel Tree in an effort to provide gifts to underprivileged children in the D.C. area.
Project Angel Tree, a national campaign initiated to provide children whose parents are incarcerated with Christmas gifts, is one of the Chapel Assistant's biggest projects during the year. It has grown to a broad initiative that reaches out to children nationwide. The Chapel Assistants currently sponsor seven local schools with gifts: Garrison Elementary, Raymond Elementary, Tubman Elementary, Cleveland Elementary, H.D. Cooke Elementary, Shaw Middle School, and Howard's very own middle school, (MS)2. Last year, with the help of the Howard community, the Chapel Assistants were able to make a difference in the lives of over 600 children.
"I hope that next year more schools will be included in the initiative," Marline Pamphile, a junior nursing major from Brooklyn and current community service chair for Chapel Assistants, said. Pamphile, a Chapel Assistant since her freshman year, said Chapel Assistants has really helped her to grow a relationship with God.
While some may think Project Angel Tree is just a common toy drive, a lot of preparation goes into planning the project. First, the schools are contacted and are asked to create a list of approximately 50 well-deserving students, or "angels." The angels must then provide a wish list from which one affordable item will be chosen.
Anyone is eligible to sponsor an angel. Sponsorship tables are located in the lower level of the Armour J. Blackburn Student Center as well as outside of Chapel each Sunday. Sponsors may choose to donate monetarily or purchase an item on an angel's wish list and return it unwrapped on Nov. 18 to the lower level of Carnegie Hall.
Spreading the word about this project is the best way to produce more support. Tweeting about the project, posting statuses about it on Facebook and personal blogs or word-of-mouth can go a long way. Volunteers will be needed at the wrapping party Dec. 2. The Chapel Assistants will be offering student incentives such as Bison Ball points and RSVP points to those who volunteer.
"I have heard of Angel Tree, but I never knew what it was. Now, that I know, I want to sponsor an Angel or at least help out at the wrapping party," sophomore Jenelle Coy said.
A main objective of the Chapel Assistants, a service and religious life organization, is to ensure that Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel services and other events run smoothly and assisting before, during and after Chapel service each Sunday. The Chapel Assistant's motto's is: " More than an organization, we're a family."
This organization serves in more than the chapel. For Thanksgiving, they host a complimentary dinner in the Annex for students who are unable go home, they provide story time to the children at Howard's Early Childhood Center and they annually host a canned food drive.
Allen Reynolds, a senior TV production major from Chicago, has been a Chapel Assistant since his freshman year. "This year is bigger than my four years here," Reynolds said. Of his reason for joining Chapel Assistants, Reynolds said God spoke to him and said, "If you plan on serving me, you have to serve my people."
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