CONWAY — The University of Central Arkansas helps its employees during Christmas with the Angel Bear Tree.
Stephanie McBrayer, director of housing and residence life at UCA, said the Angel Bear Tree is “a beloved tradition” on campus. “We’ve been doing it as long as I can remember,” she said.
The Angel Bear Tree, coordinated by the UCA Staff Senate, includes 120 individual angels and 56 families in need this year, said Apryl Jackson, event chairwoman.
“The families who apply, it’s income-based, much like the original Angel Tree that’s out there,” Jackson said, referring to The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree. Each application is verified, she said.
The trees are at five locations on campus: in the lobbies of Wingo Hall; the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Center; the Student Center; Torreyson Library; and the Foundation Office.
“Bears” on the tree at the HPER were mostly male, and they each included “needs” and “would likes.” One was an 8-year-old who wanted pants, shirts and Legos, a 6-year-old who wanted a racetrack and “anything fun to play with.” Another child’s wish list included beginner reading books and “anything baseball related.” A 16-year-old girl, in addition to clothes, asked for hair accessories, makeup and nail polish.
The families will also receive food boxes from the Bears Essentials Food Pantry on campus when they pick up the gifts, Jackson said.
Erica Ruble, public-information specialist and a member of the Staff Senate, said anyone can adopt an angel.
“We have a lot of student groups who will do it, but some people will just come in — maybe they have some tie, maybe their child is a student — or they have no tie at all,” she said. “We just keep a tag off the form.”
Ruble said organizers touch base with off-campus people who adopt angels to make sure they can return the gifts. One year, bad weather prevented some people from making it back to campus, she said.
Participants are asked to have the unwrapped presents returned by Dec. 11 to the Torryeson Library reference desk. Jackson said anyone who wants to adopt an angel or who needs more information may contact her at aprylj@uca.edu.
UCA President Tom Courtway said the Angel Bear Tree program has been going on for many years.
“It is a great initiative of the UCA Staff Senate and provides Christmas for many children in our community,” Courtway said. “The greatest thing about it, other than providing for those children, is the number of offices and employees at UCA that contribute or adopt a bear. It is phenomenal and is very
tangible evidence of how the UCA community cares. We appreciate the leadership and vision of the Staff Senate.”
For more information about the program, email Jackson.
Senior writer Tammy Keith can be reached at (501) 327-0370 or tkeith@arkansasonline.com.