News : Benton County Angel Tree helps 284 Families this Christmas

Pictured are the wonderful folks who helped to make the Christmas season cheery and bright for area families

Donations that arrived from Illinois

Another year is in the books for the Benton County Angel Tree program. The small contingent of elves behind Angel Tree was able to assist 284 area families this year, and 381 children! The event is organized specifically for Benton County children each year and staffed by the kindhearted people in the community. 

The generous donations from area residents and businesses filled the Michael & Dowd building in downtown Vinton. Angel Tree has been active in the county since 1998. Originally, the program was led for 24 years by LaNette Parker, who retired in 2022. Macey Stout took over the program after that.  

Among the donations this year was a set of goodie bags that arrived from an Illinois family who is part of the Benton County Speedway racing teams. They donated a Rayce Mullen T-shirt or sweatshirt, hat, bracelet and hero card signed by the driver (while supplies lasted).

Stout said, "I'd like to thank the following businesses that hosted either the Angel Tree tags or the donation boxes that helped collect toys and clothing:

Businesses that displayed Trees with tags of needed gifts:

Farmers Savings Bank - Vinton

Cedar Valley Bank - Vinton

US Bank - Vinton

Recharge Coffee Shop -Van Horne

Donation Boxes:

Rooster Auto Repair - Vinton

Theisen’s - Vinton

Dollar General - Newhall

Chelsea Savings Bank - Van Horne

A big Special thanks to Shelly’s Sweets for donating Santa cookies for all the families!"

This project wouldn't have been possible without the very kind elves who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to organize and collect gifts, then helped to distribute the gifts to those in the community. Stout's friends and family joined her with this project. They helped to organize the event, and assist the families when they came in to shop, then they helped to tear down and clean up after the event. They didn't let her down!

Some of the helpers are shown in the picture above.

From left to right, back row: Jolene Paul and Jason Stout (aunt and uncle)

Second Row: Jackson Trachta (son); Jen Stout (aunt). Teresa Stout (mom), Brayden Beauregard

Front Row: Jordan Trachta (son), Macey Stout,  Anabelle Hernandez (friend) holding Arizona, and  Barrett (friend).

Not pictured are: Shelby Larson and her son, Sterling, and Amanda Hernandez.

A special thank you to this group of workers who helped to make this possible for our community. You are the best of the best!