
Adopting angels from North Lamar’s Christmas tree is an event anticipated by the district each year. Whether it’s choosing an angel off the tree or buying an extra turkey or canned food item, North Lamar looks forward to this annual event as a way of taking care of their own.

Distribution of the angel gifts and food baskets is a group effort of the districts’ volunteers and community. In all 117 North Lamar angels were adopted by students, athletes, teachers, campus service clubs and organizations, and local churches. Fifty-two families received food baskets while 30 youngsters will have a new bicycle or tricycle assembled by the NLHS Ag and small engine repair students.

The North Lamar Athletic Department jumped in early and adopted twenty-two angels from the tree. Both the boy and girl athletes marked off items from their angels’ shopping lists while shopping at Walmart. For the second year, Coach Martin Bryant was instrumental in securing forty turkeys for families through E-Systems in Greenville who donated them again this year.

“This is a district-wide and community effort,” said NLISD Elementary Nurse Jennifer Elrod. “It’s awesome that we can take such good care of our own students in such a great way. It begins with those who adopt the angels to Brookshire’s who generously supplies us with boxes to build our food baskets then to those who help with the organization and distribution of it all. We could not do this without everyone’s help.”

The North Lamar Angel tree dates back to the early 1970’s when former NLISD nurse Theresa Emerson established the North Lamar Children’s Fund to help student in the district who were in need of shoes, clothes, medication, eye exams, glasses, and other personal needs. One time relying solely on donations from churches, PTO groups, memorials, and individuals, it now relies on contributions from North Lamar personnel, generous donors, and proceeds from the annual Skip, Jump and Run event held in the spring.