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Dexter, Missouri - The Christmas season is here!  It is the season of giving.

But maybe not everyone has someone to give to them. So SoutheastHEALTH Center of Stoddard County is stepping in for some senior citizens.

“Our Angel Tree has been going on for over 15 years," said Janette Powell, registered nurse at the hospital.  “The Angel Tree is such a blessing and is anticipated every year. 

The way the Angel Tree works is that we contact the nursing homes and residential care centers and ask them who they have that doesn't have any family around."

Powell said the facilities provided the names along with things the named individuals needed, like clothes in specified sizes; and wanted, like books, candy or -- in the case of women – or makeup or perfume. "We ask for about 10 per facility," she said.

Powell said such individuals might lack a family because the family members had all moved off, or even all passed away. But whatever the reason, she said; she and co-worker Sonja Mays compiled the names, identified them by number and put the numbers on a paper cutout angel on a Christmas at the ICU/CCU nurses' station.

"This year we had a total of 88," Powell said. The names come from senior care or living facilities in Malden, Essex, Dexter, Bloomfield and Puxico.

The angels remain on the tree until someone from the hospital chooses an angel and commits to procure the desired items on the back of the angel for the individual matching the number. "It's totally anonymous," Powell said, "And it's not just the hospital staff that adopts.

"We've had people from the community come in, also."It's apparently been working well. "We only have three of them left," Powell said.

She said after the donors deliver the gift items to the hospital, she and Mays take the items to the various facilities. "She takes one half of the county and I take the other half," Powell said.

The aim is to have all the gifts delivered before the given facility holds its Christmas party. "That way they will be able to get something at the party," Powell said.

In addition, she continued, the facility holds a gift or two back for presentation on Christmas Day. "That way they get to have a Christmas even though they may not have a family to get it for them," Powell said.

"And they deserve it," added Mays. "These are the neediest in our community.

"And since they served us, when we were young, it's time for us to serve them." 

If you are interested in adopting an angel from the Angel Tree at the hospital, contact Amy Ellinghouse at 573-614-1970.

Shown in the photo is Sonja Mays. Photo provided by Amy Ellinghouse.