Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Jerry Floyd, CNE Director of Gaming, Mary Mead, Cherokee Nation Volunteer Coordinator, Shannon Chesser and Labrandia Lemley, co-chairs of the Cherokee Nation Angel Tree and James Starr, CNE Vice-President of Gaming.

TAHLEQUAH, OK - Amid a sea of blue Wal Mart sacks, brightly wrapped packages and festive gift bags, Cherokee Nation employees gathered to add the final touches to the 2001 Angel Tree project. Although donations and contributions were lower than last year, the Cherokee Nation Angel Tree provided gifts for almost 900 children this Christmas.

The largest contributor was Cherokee Nation Enterprises, a tribally owned corporation that donated $20,000 for the cause.

"The response to the Angel Tree was simply overwhelming", said Shannon Cresser, Angel Tree co-chair. "Cherokee Nation employees were generous in giving their money and their time. Many of our employees would turn in their gifts for their selected angel and go take another name off the tree. We’ve never seen this type of response in all they years we’ve been doing Angel Tree."

Sandy Houston, secretary to Deputy Chief Hastings Shade, and her husband provided Christmas cheer for seven angels this year. "Every time I walked by the Angel Tree, I was surprised by the number of angels still left. I told my husband and my sister and we all kept taking another angel. It was really rewarding for our family to buy presents for total strangers, children we didn't even know, and realize what we were doing was making a difference to little boys and girls. My husband came up all by himself and took an angel. Several women in our office called their family and friends to get them to pick out an angel. It felt good to be able to help."

Due to an increase in applications, 500 angels remained on the tree after the deadline for turning in presents passed on Monday. Thanks to Cherokee Nation Enterprises and other individuals, enough money was raised to buy gifts for all the remaining angels.

A group of die-hard employees spent Wednesday buying and wrapping gifts. "It was really fun shopping for these children. People would see our shopping carts overflowing with clothes and toys and look at us with wonder and amazement", said Tami Haley, a supervisor in the Indian Child Welfare program. "I haven’t done any of my personal shopping, but jumped at the chance to go shopping for the angel tree."

"This is a true example of peace and goodwill in action", said Linda Woodward, Director of Indian Child Welfare, the program responsible for coordinating the Angel Tree project. "We're thankful for all those who bought gifts, made donations and contribution, the shoppers, the gift wrappers, and especially Cherokee Nation Enterprises for their generosity. All these people showed that Christmas is really about giving."