Baltimore Corps of Engineers helps "Angels" in the community

By Mr. Clem Gaines (USACE)December 4, 2014

Corps of Engineers employees donate to Angel Tree
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – For the 21st year, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District employees donated toys, clothes and other gifts to the Salvation Army Angel Tree program. District coordinator Sue Jones (left), Real Estate Division, joins Valerie Golder and Mary A... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Corps of Engineers employees load toys, gifts for Angel Tree
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

For the 21st year in a row, employees at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, contributed toys and other gifts to more than 150 children as part of The Salvation Army's Angel Tree Program.

Bags and boxes of clothes and toys overflowed seven large carts as the gifts were donated by numerous Corps employees on Dec. 3 at the City Crescent Building in downtown Baltimore.

The District's Angel Tree program is led by Sue Jones, a real estate specialist and project coordinator, who first saw an Angel Tree poster at her hairdresser's shop more than 20 years ago, and the idea of taking part in this program inspired her to take action.

"That first year was difficult because a lot of people didn't know about it," said Jones. "As more and more people saw how inspiring and important it was, it became something everyone seemed to look forward to each year."

Angel Tree participation and impact have grown over the years. Estimates are that approximately 50 Baltimore District employees participated in 1993 and about 115 this year. The number of children who have received gifts from District employees is approximately 2,500 during the last 21 years.

"I participate because I like to think about how happy these kids are when they see they have gifts under the tree," said Mary Hollobaugh, a real estate specialist, who has been giving since day one in 1993. "I like to imagine their smiles and their parent's smiles when they open their gifts."

Each employee gets specific information on their "angel" (age, gender, etc.) and a wish list. Then the employee fills the list as best they can. Jones notes that the program has grown over the years. In the Corps, there are many points of contact in the divisions and offices who collect the gifts to deliver on the designated day.

"It breaks my heart to think of children not receiving something on Christmas morning. I am blessed, and I want to give back to those in need," she said. "I just felt that we had a chance to do something amazing for the community, and the program took off from there."