Families in Need FAQ

FAQ:Families in Need

Who is eligible for assistance through Angels for Christmas?
All families must reside in Box Elder County. Children aged newborn through 17 are eligible for assistance. High school seniors who have reached their 18^th birthday are also eligible.

Are families screened to verify financial need?
Yes! Applications will not be processed unless they are signed by an approved service agency or ecclesiastic leader providing assistance to the family. These approved delegates have screening measures already in place that determine financial need.

Where can I get an application?
Applications are available at every approved screening agency October 5 – December 16. You must be receiving and/or be eligible to receive services from the screening agency. The screening agency will check your application for eligibility, confirm that it is completed in its entirety and retain it for submission to Angels for Christmas. Applications delivered directly to Angels for Christmas or Utah State University Brigham City will not be accepted.

2009 Screening Agencies

Box Elder Family Support Center
Bear River Mental Health
Box Elder Community Pantry
Box Elder Boys and Girls Club
Department of Workforce Services
Head Start /Early Head Start
Migrant Head Start / Centro de Familia

What if I have already submitted an application for Angels for Christmas, but one of my children has now been offered assistance from another group. Can we receive gifts from more than one program?
In order to ensure that all children in need receive holiday gifts, we ask that families not request or accept gifts from more than one source. This is increasingly important as the number of applications we receive multiplies annually. We do all that we can to eliminate duplication of efforts. In order to facilitate this goal, we have access to a number of local and state-wide databases to cross check family addresses and applications for assistance. We also ask that individuals or smaller assistance programs contact Angels for Christmas to cross check the family names for whom they are providing assistance. If you are offered assistance from another source, please contact Angels for Christmas. We will happily remove your family, child, or the item (for example, shoes from Quarters for Christmas or gifts for one child from Shop with a Cop) receiving duplicate assistance from our list.

It is after December 16^th and I haven’t submitted an application, but my children need assistance. Is it too late?
Angels for Christmas is dedicated to meeting the needs of every child that applies for assistance. The greatest effort will be made to meet this goal! We strongly encourage families to apply prior to December 16, 2009. However, no application will be turned away. All applications must be signed by an approved service agency. We cannot guarantee that all requests will be met, but we will do our very best to serve the children that apply for assistance.

Does Angels for Christmas guarantee that I will receive the gifts I have requested for my children?
Angels for Christmas operates exclusively on the generosity of donations received each year, thus we cannot guarantee that all requests will be filled. Specific gifts may be substituted due to expense or availability of requested items. We process applications on a “first–come, first–serve” basis. In the unfortunate event that more applications are submitted than donations received, we may not be able to provide gifts for every family in need. However, we do all that we can to ensure that no child will go without a gift during the holiday season and to this date, we have never turned a family away due to lack of gifts.

What if my child needs all the items listed as “needs”?
Please choose the four items that your child needs MOST. Each child will receive five gifts (four “needs” and one “wish”). If more than four items are circled, Angels for Christmas will choose which four items will be given to your child.

What if my child needs something that is not on the list?
In order to simplify the application and make the data transfer process from the paper application to the computer database easier for our volunteers, we no longer allow applicants to write-in their “need” gift requests. We have determined the items most often requested and listed those as “needs” on the application. Please circle only four items on the “needs” list for each of your children. Unfortunately, additional information, requests, or changes to the items listed will not be considered. The obvious exception is your child’s “wish” request, which still may be hand-written. Please keep in mind that we cannot meet requests for electronics or other expensive items.

Rather than each of my children receiving five (5) individual gifts, can the money that would have been spent on each child be combined to purchase one big gift, like a new game system?
Our primary mission is to ensure that children’s needs (shoes, clothing, blankets, etc.) are met. We also want each child to have a special toy or other gift that is not considered a fundamental “need.” For that reason we give each child four “needs” and one “wish”.

When do I pick up my gifts?
Gift distribution will take place on Saturday, December 19^th at Utah State University Brigham City Regional Campus (Milton P. Miller Building, 195 West 1100 South, east doors). Time of pick-up is determined by the agency through which you submitted your application as follows.

Time	Agency
9:00 – 11: 00 a.m.	Box Elder Community Pantry
9:00 – 11: 00 a.m.	Migrant Head Start / Centro de Familia
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.	Department of Workforce Services
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.	Bear River Mental Health
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.	Box Elder Family Support Center
	Box Elder Boys and Girls Club
	Head Start /Early Head Start
3:00 – 4:00 p.m.	Others

Please plan to pick up your gifts on Saturday, December 19^th. If you are unable to pick up your gifts due to weather or other unavoidable issues, please contact Kiersten Wilson (435?734?9958, Ext. 285) to arrange a time to pick up your gifts on Monday, December 21^st

Can someone else pick up my gifts?
We request that the individual who completed and signed the application present photo ID at the time of gift distribution. In the event that the applicant is unable to be present, he/she should contact Angels for Christmas (435-734-9958, Ext. 285) to receive prior approval for a family member or friend to pick up gifts.

What about food for families in need?
Angels for Christmas partners with the Box Elder Community Food Pantry to provide a holiday meal for families that request our assistance. If you are in need of food, you may contact Linda Hansen at 435-723-1449. The Pantry is located at 272 North 200 West in Brigham City.

What is the Warm the Soles program and how is it affiliated with Angels for Christmas?
Warm the Soles is a program sponsored by the Utah League of Credit Unions that raises money to buy athletic shoes for underprivileged children. It was started in 1993 by a credit union president who saw a need in his community. Money is raised by credit unions that encourage participation from their members, their employees, and other members of the community. Since its inception, the program has raised over $1.3 million to purchase shoes. As of 2009, over 50,000 pairs of shoes and socks have been given to needy Utah children.

America First Credit Union, Box Elder County Credit Union, Members First Credit Union, and USU Charter Credit Union are participating in the Warm the Soles program in Box Elder County. These credit unions have partnered with Angels for Christmas to provide the shoes requested on Angels for Christmas applications. Each child receiving shoes will also receive a pair of socks. Families will receive shoes with the rest of their Angels for Christmas gifts. Please note: only athletic shoes will be purchased. Please do not write-in a request for boots or dress shoes on the “needs” list.)

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