Florham Park Rotary Angel Tree 2022
Florham Park Rotary Club
Florham Park and surrounding community residents once again have the opportunity to have a positive impact on the lives of area children in need through the Florham Park Rotary Angel Tree.
The Angel Tree was decorated and placed at the Florham Park Post Office at 187 Columbia Turnpike on Friday, Nov. 25 and will remain until December 20.
Coordinated through the East Morris office of the state Division of Child Protection and Permanency, formerly known as the DYFS child welfare agency, local children’s gift wishes are written on each ornament and hung on the tree.
“The people of Florham Park do a fantastic job,” shared Florham Park Rotary President Simone Campbell, who helped to organize the annual event. “Some of these gifts are real needs, like diapers or a winter coat. Some of them, the people of Florham Park really go above and beyond. I remember one year a kid asked for a mountain bike and somebody bought him a mountain bike.”
He said about 100 or more ornaments hang from the tree each year – a reminder that even in a wealthy area like eastern Morris County, there are many children and families in need.
He encouraged residents to visit the Post Office, take a look at the Angel Tree, and see which gift request strikes them.
A few examples from previous years of what children have asked for are:
- 2-year-old male – Winter coat, hat, gloves, scarf, boots, learning/coloring activity books, tactile leap pad, educational toys, ShopRite gift card for groceries;
- 13-month-old male – Diapers (size 5), Baby Shark toys, Crayola color wonder markers/sets, bath/shower markers/crayons, balls;
- 5-year-old female – Hannah Montana dolls, toys, kitchen toys, anything with unicorns, age-appropriate books (she loves to be read to), anything for pretend play;
- 12-year-old female – Clothing (girls size 7/8), nail polish kit, sneakers (girls 7), hygiene items, winter coat, boots, hat, glove, scarf, anything for drawing, coloring or painting.
- Rotarian Bob Feid reminds that in many cases this is the only thing a child may receive during the holiday season.
- Residents may select an ornament from the Angel Tree and return with that wrapped gift by Wednesday, December 20.
About Rotary
Rotary International is a nonpolitical and nonsectarian organization open to all people regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, or political preference. There are 35,000 clubs dedicated to bringing together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and to advance goodwill and peace around the world.
To learn more about the local Florham Park Rotary, guests are welcome to join a weekly Rotary breakfast meeting at the Florham Park Diner at 182 Ridgedale Ave. Meetings are 7:47 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. every Friday.
For more information and to learn about other community projects and Florham Park Rotarians, visit FlorhamParkRotary.com or email Membership Chair George Gregor at ggregor@florhamparkrotary.com or Sergeant-at-Arms Peter Nicolas at pnicolas@florhamparkrotary.com.
Courtesy photo
