The LISD’s Adopt an Angel project is in process at Flower Mound High School until Friday, December 7. Picking “angels” off the list from Lewisville High School started on November 12.

The Adopt an Angel program was started in 2003 by Lewisville High School’s Student Activities Director, Allison Stamey.

The Lewisville High School Student Council wanted to help others in the community, so they went to a local organization and picked about 200 angels for their student council and classes to adopt. Once they picked their angels, the students bought the items and wrapped them so the angels would experience the thrill of unwrapping their gifts.

When the LHS Student Council dropped off the gifts to the organization, the workers started tearing off the wrapping paper. They explained to Stamey that the angels they had listed to adopt weren’t real people. The organization made up the names so they could get gifts to put in their store. There was no guarantee that the local children chosen actually received the gifts.

“We wanted to make sure our LISD children and families actually received the gifts in hand for the holiday,” Stamey said. “Now we work with school counselors and Communities in Schools of North Texas  to make sure the families receive gifts for the holiday.”

Schools all over LISD are helping less fortunate families by adopting angels off of the Angel Tree list put together by Stamey.

“Our first year we helped around 300 angels, and last year we had a total of 769 angels,” Stamey said. “My expectation was to just make kids happy since the holiday can be sad for many, but each year it keeps growing.”

Students at FMHS can pick angels of their own to help.

“Picking people from the Angel Tree has always been a favorite thing of mine,” freshman Ashelynn Fuson said.

Fuson has been a part of the Angel Tree since she was in elementary school.

“When you see needs of families for clothing, toys, and simple necessities, it really makes you want to reach out to help them,” freshman Stephanie Morales said.

Stamey feels like other people should help others anytime they can.

“If everyone learns to help others through giving, it could have a profound rippling effect,” Stamey said. “A single act of kindness could change the lives of many.”

To adopt an angel you can email Allison Stamey at [email protected].