“Happy Tree” Delights the Children of St. John’s

by Newfoundland
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“Happy Tree” Receives Toys for St. John’s Children

November 26, 2010…Joseph Limehan and his family visited the “Happy Tree” on behalf of the Transocean Grandbanks Social Committee donating 104 gifts to the Happy Tree Program. The committee of 12 members got together and purchased $1,000 worth of gifts for boys and girls of all ages. The average cost of each gift was between $10 and $15. The committee usually tries to donate to one charity each month, and this they chose to support the Happy Tree. Their goal is to try to support local initiatives whenever possible, such as a school lunch program they are also working to support this month.

The Happy Tree

The Avalon Mall/VOCM Happy Tree is celebrating over 40 years of helping the community at Christmas time. The Salvation Army and the Avalon Mall partner with the VOCM Cares Foundation to collect and distribute toys for needy children aged infant to 18 years. A “Happy” Tree is set up at centre court in the Avalon Mall for approximately one month leading up to Christmas. Mall shoppers can leave their gifts (unwrapped preferably) in a large collection bin located next to the tree.

“Happy” has become quite popular with the children and in most recent years, a local volunteer steps inside the ‘happy tree’ and speaks to the children at different times throughout the day.

Many local groups and businesses also hold toy drives and/or cash donations for the Happy Tree. These items are picked up by a VOCM Cares staff member and delivered to the Salvation Army for sorting and packaging.

In 2009, 1381 children in the greater St. John’s metro area received a gift package (containing 7-8 toys) through this project, and therefore did not experience an ‘empty stocking’ on Christmas morning.

Happy Tree projects are also done in areas outside the capital city. In these cases, staff members of the local radio stations – CHCM Marystown, CKCM Grand falls Windsor, CKVO Clarenville, and CHVO Carbonear, play a huge role in the successful coordination of the Happy Tree Project for that particular area.