Ashley’s Angels brings Christmas cheer to more than 1,300 children
(1/3/2018)
The non-profit benefitted over 60 school districts in Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin this year
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Ashley’s Angels delivered Christmas cheer to 1,356 children across the country, providing food, clothing, and toys to children in need. Ashley Furniture trucks, filled with gifts, made deliveries to more than 60 school districts in the communities surrounding Ashley’s manufacturing and distribution facilities in Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. This year, the nonprofit organization along with Ashley employees raised $262,081 in support of the program.
The all-volunteer organization worked with local schools — primarily school guidance counselors and nurses — to identify children in need of extra assistance. Every child in the program, along with his or her sibling(s), received winter apparel and shoes (as needed), clothes, a blanket, and a special Christmas present. Each child’s family also received a Christmas dinner. “Ashley’s Angels originated from the passion of one employee wanting to help others in need. That passion has carried on for 20 years, inspiring others throughout our company and our surrounding communities to also participate,” said Todd Wanek, president and CEO, Ashley Furniture Industries. “I am so proud of the efforts these volunteers put forth, year-round, and for inspiring others to help spread holiday cheer to those who need it most.” |
The Ashley’s Angels program was established by an Ashley Furniture truck driver from Mississippi in 1997 after he heard about a girl who was living in a car with her mother. The Ashley driver recruited help from fellow drivers to provide food, clothing, and additional assistance by helping the family find proper housing before Christmas. Seeing the impact their efforts had made in this family’s life encouraged those involved to form Ashley’s Angels.
Each year in December, volunteers line up to shop for the selected recipients. Shoppers are provided a Christmas list with each child’s age, gender, clothing sizes and special interests to shop for. The gifts are then wrapped and loaded onto Ashley trucks and delivered to participating schools for distribution to the families the week before Christmas.
Ashley’s Angels encourages anyone interested in volunteering at next year’s shopping event to sign up online at www.ashleyangels.org under the “volunteer” tab or email info@ashleyangels.org with their contact information.
Ashley’s Angels is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that provides food, clothing, blankets, and special gift requests for children in need each year. The organization has generated over $3,000,000 in donations and benefited more than 20,000 children in Mississippi, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and North Carolina since 1997. The community patrons of Ashley’s Angels, including local businesses and volunteers, partner with area schools to provide necessities to children who need it most. For more information on Ashley’s Angels and upcoming events, visit www.ashleyangels.org, and learn more about volunteering at www.ashleyangels.org/contact-us.html.
Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc., feels that every person deserves more value for their money. Established in 1945, Ashley is the largest manufacturer of home furnishings in the world, and was recently named one of America’s Best Employers by Forbes in 2017. From design through fulfillment, Ashley is committed to delivering the world’s best home furnishing values, selection and service, and earning the loyalty and trust of its customers every day. Visit Ashley online at www.ashleyfurniture.com and like Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc. on Facebook.
Each year in December, volunteers line up to shop for the selected recipients. Shoppers are provided a Christmas list with each child’s age, gender, clothing sizes and special interests to shop for. The gifts are then wrapped and loaded onto Ashley trucks and delivered to participating schools for distribution to the families the week before Christmas.
Ashley’s Angels encourages anyone interested in volunteering at next year’s shopping event to sign up online at www.ashleyangels.org under the “volunteer” tab or email info@ashleyangels.org with their contact information.
Ashley’s Angels is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that provides food, clothing, blankets, and special gift requests for children in need each year. The organization has generated over $3,000,000 in donations and benefited more than 20,000 children in Mississippi, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and North Carolina since 1997. The community patrons of Ashley’s Angels, including local businesses and volunteers, partner with area schools to provide necessities to children who need it most. For more information on Ashley’s Angels and upcoming events, visit www.ashleyangels.org, and learn more about volunteering at www.ashleyangels.org/contact-us.html.
Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc., feels that every person deserves more value for their money. Established in 1945, Ashley is the largest manufacturer of home furnishings in the world, and was recently named one of America’s Best Employers by Forbes in 2017. From design through fulfillment, Ashley is committed to delivering the world’s best home furnishing values, selection and service, and earning the loyalty and trust of its customers every day. Visit Ashley online at www.ashleyfurniture.com and like Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc. on Facebook.
Ashley's Angels provides for nearly 1000 children this Holiday Season
ARCADIA, Wis. - Volunteer shoppers gathered round at their local Walmart near Ashley Furniture manufacturing and distribution facilities in Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin to fill shopping carts as Ashley’s Angels spread the Christmas spirit to nearly 1,000 children in need.
The all-volunteer organization works with local schools – primarily school guidance counselors - to identify children who need some extra assistance. Every child in the program has the option to receive a warm coat, boots or shoes, clothes, blanket, and a special Christmas present. Each family also receives a Christmas turkey dinner with all the fixings.
ARCADIA, Wis. - Volunteer shoppers gathered round at their local Walmart near Ashley Furniture manufacturing and distribution facilities in Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin to fill shopping carts as Ashley’s Angels spread the Christmas spirit to nearly 1,000 children in need.
The all-volunteer organization works with local schools – primarily school guidance counselors - to identify children who need some extra assistance. Every child in the program has the option to receive a warm coat, boots or shoes, clothes, blanket, and a special Christmas present. Each family also receives a Christmas turkey dinner with all the fixings.
“The Ashley’s Angels program was established by a Mississippi Ashley Furniture truck driver in 1997 that heard about a girl named Ashley who was living in a car with her mother,” said Patrick Myers of Ashley’s Angels, “The Ashley driver recruited help from other truckers to provide food, clothing, and additional assistance in helping this family find proper housing by Christmas. Seeing the impact that their efforts had made in this family’s life inspired them to form Ashley’s Angels.”
Over the course of the last decade, the organization has spread into three states, serving communities that are in close proximity to Ashley Furniture’s regional manufacturing and distribution facilities.
Over the course of the last decade, the organization has spread into three states, serving communities that are in close proximity to Ashley Furniture’s regional manufacturing and distribution facilities.
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Ashley's Angels expands into La Crosse, Buffalo Co.'s
The effort buys items for kids less fortunate during the holidays
ONALASKA, Wis. (WKBT) -An annual effort helping kids stay warm and get a Christmas gift is expanding.
Ashley's Angels, named after Ashley Furniture based in Arcadia, has been helping kids in our area since 1997 with warm clothes and toys.
This year, it expanded out of Trempealeau County and into La Crosse and Buffalo Counties.
Volunteers filled shopping carts Tuesday at Wal-Mart in Onalaska and Winona.
In Wisconsin, they're helping nearly 350 kids at 13 schools. And that's just part of a bigger effort. "For this year, between Pennsylvania and Mississippi and Arcadia, we raised over $222,000. That's all just going for Christmas," said Betty Klopotek.
Ashley Furniture is a big contributor to the drive. Other fundraisers and employees also help get the money.
The gifts will be delivered on December 21st.
Ashley's Angels, named after Ashley Furniture based in Arcadia, has been helping kids in our area since 1997 with warm clothes and toys.
This year, it expanded out of Trempealeau County and into La Crosse and Buffalo Counties.
Volunteers filled shopping carts Tuesday at Wal-Mart in Onalaska and Winona.
In Wisconsin, they're helping nearly 350 kids at 13 schools. And that's just part of a bigger effort. "For this year, between Pennsylvania and Mississippi and Arcadia, we raised over $222,000. That's all just going for Christmas," said Betty Klopotek.
Ashley Furniture is a big contributor to the drive. Other fundraisers and employees also help get the money.
The gifts will be delivered on December 21st.
Copyright 2013 by WKBT News8000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Ashley's Angels Christmas mission
By Olga Michail |
Posted: Sat 2:47 PM, Dec 21, 2013 |
Updated: Sat 10:39 PM, Dec 21, 2013
Posted: Sat 2:47 PM, Dec 21, 2013 |
Updated: Sat 10:39 PM, Dec 21, 2013
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Eleva, Wis (WEAU) -- Just three days before Christmas area non-profits are keeping busy, by trying to make this holiday season extra special for families in need.
Ashley's Angels- a charity that helps less fortunate families have a very Special Christmas with food and present made a stop in our area. Ashley's Angels began its journey in Mississippi many years ago. A group of truck drivers there helped a little girl and her mom, homeless and hungry during Christmas time. “The drivers got together and took up some contributions to help them out; it just so happens that her name was Ashley, so that's how Ashley's Angels got their name to begin with,” said President of the Ashley’s Angels Wisconsin Chapter Patrick Myers. Wisconsin started its chapter 7 years ago, helping three kids that first year. It’s counting more than 350 children this holiday season. “Everybody does this because they want to give back to the community,” said Myers. Myers says the volunteers deliver the gifts to schools in Trempealeau, Buffalo and parts of La Crosse County, and fundraise for gifts too; with the help of the community and local businesses like Ashley Furniture store. |
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“We had an overabundance of families that needed help this year,” said Debbie Wright, with the Eleva-Strum School District.
Eleva-Strum School District received items for four families that the district's own program "Christmas From the Heart" didn't have funds to cover.
“A lot of the parents that help us shop bring their children along, and it's kind of the same idea here; to let children know that Christmas is more about giving then receiving,” explained Myers.
And that's why five Eleva-Strum High School students were at the elementary school bright and early, wrapping the gifts Ashley’s Angels dropped off at the door.
“Anything I can do, especially on Christmas for these young students, young people who really wouldn't get a Christmas like this,” said Eleva-Strum High School Junior Doug Sands.
“They always say it's a community that raises a child and I felt that this community has done a good job raising me,” he added.
Eleva-Strum's program "Christmas From the Heart" did fundraise enough to supply 28 families this year with necessities and gifts alike.
Besides presents, Ashley’s Angels are delivering Christmas dinners to those less fortunate families as well.
Eleva-Strum School District received items for four families that the district's own program "Christmas From the Heart" didn't have funds to cover.
“A lot of the parents that help us shop bring their children along, and it's kind of the same idea here; to let children know that Christmas is more about giving then receiving,” explained Myers.
And that's why five Eleva-Strum High School students were at the elementary school bright and early, wrapping the gifts Ashley’s Angels dropped off at the door.
“Anything I can do, especially on Christmas for these young students, young people who really wouldn't get a Christmas like this,” said Eleva-Strum High School Junior Doug Sands.
“They always say it's a community that raises a child and I felt that this community has done a good job raising me,” he added.
Eleva-Strum's program "Christmas From the Heart" did fundraise enough to supply 28 families this year with necessities and gifts alike.
Besides presents, Ashley’s Angels are delivering Christmas dinners to those less fortunate families as well.
