Brechin has once again shown its warm heart with the largest response yet to a gift giving appeal still going strong since it began in the Cold War.
The Angel Tree is set up each festive season in the city cathedral, with locals, other churches and people from the surrounding area encouraged to pick a tag from it and donate a gift for a local child whose family may be facing a tough Christmas.
The idea was launched by servicemen based at what was then the US Navy base at Edzell, who wanted to play their part in making the festive season special for those in the area.
Retired nurse and dedicated local fundraiser Irene Gillies has led the effort to keep the tradition going and this week will be helped by a loyal band of volunteers to deliver the “overwhelming” number of parcels which have flooded in.
“It has been an absolutely fantastic response, the best we have ever received,” said a delighted Irene.
“This year it has not only been Brechin Churches Together; Fern, Careston and Menmuir provided 34 parcels, and one lady came in with 20, just wanting to pass on all those lovely gifts.
“The manager of Tesco put a message on Facebook and that has helped the response, everyone has been super.”
Although the presents are usually stacked around the Angel Tree, a cathedral event mean they took over Irene’s home – all 225 of them.
“These gifts will go out to more than 30 families in Brechin, with around 75 children receiving presents.
“We work very closely to make sure the presents go to deserving families and there are a few faithful friends who help with the deliveries so they are all dropped off in time for Christmas.
“It is terrible to think that some children might wake up to nothing on Christmas Day, but this has just been a wonderful, overwhelming response – it is going up every year,” said Irene.
