Annual Angel Tree now in place for 2017

WARWICK — There is one popular holiday mainstay of the annual celebration of Warwick's Home for the Holidays that deserves more attention than many of the other traditions.
The Angel Tree, located on Main Street between Akin's Drug Store and Newhard's The Home Source, is now on display and will be displayed throughout the holiday season.
The annual Angel Tree benefits the Warwick Ecumenical Food Pantry.
This is how it works:
Each angel on the tree identifies a child by gender and age.
Passerby are urged to select an angel, purchase a small gift and drop it off at Track 7 Postal Center, 3 Forester Ave., at the corner of Colonial Avenue.
There is ample parking in the back and a loading/unloading area near the front entrance.
The tree also features pledge cards in denominations of $15, $25, $50, $100, 500, 1,000 and "Name Your Pledge" for people who wish to help the pantry in its primary mission of feeding hungry people in our community.
Passerby can pull a card and deliver it with a gift, or cash or a check, to Track 7 Postal Center, which has been an active supporter of the pantry for years.
Track 7 is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
'The need in our community'"The need in our community continues, especially for our children," said Betsy Mitchell, sponsor of the Angel Tree. "We are asking everyone to reach deep, reflect on their own blessings and stop by the Angel Tree."
The angels will be categorized as boy or girl and in age groups including infant to preschool, elementary school, middle school and high school.
And there will be suggestions such as hats, gloves, backpacks, scarves, coats, board games, education games, cards, slippers, stationery and the like.
"We are looking for solid gifts that a child who might ordinarily go without would want to receive," said Mitchell.
Food, tooIn addition to gifts and monetary donations, Track 7 is also accepting non-perishable food items.
"In bad times and good, the Warwick Ecumenical Food Pantry," said Director Glenn Dickes, "serves many families in need. We at the pantry truly are grateful for all the support we receive from the community, especially at this time of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Betsy Mitchell provides an extra boost with the Angel Tree."
And Jim and Eileen Patterson, owners of Track 7 Postal Center, are enthusiastic about being a part of this tradition.
Needy families will also receive a Christmas food basket on Thursday, Dec. 22, from the food pantry, which is located in the Warwick United Methodist Church at 135 Forester Ave.
- Roger Gavan