Angel Tree: Adopting APS Title 1 Angel is a heart-warming holiday tradition for many GAAR Members. 

This year, our Angels are the APS Title 1 Homeless Students from Freedom High and Mountain View Elementary. Because the schools are having their holiday parties in early this year, we will need to adopt our angels earlier as well.

You can come by the GAAR Building anytime after 2:30 pm  this Friday to pick your "Angel."  

If you are new to adopting Angels, each elementary school student will have an Angel with their name, sizes and a list of items they would like. Because these children have very little, we recommend that you include warm clothing in your large holiday gift bag and staple the student's Angel to it. Please do not wrap individual gifts within your gift bag. 

The high school students get stocking full of candy, personal care items and a gift card to Walmart or Target.

In addition to accepting the Angel gifts, we are also accepting candy and small toiletry items as stocking stuffers, cash for gift cards and to pay for their holiday lunches.

Affiliates Angels: GAAR Affiliates are once again adopting Washington Middle School. For Affiliate Members that wish to adopt an Angel, the committee asks that you donate $40 to pay for their stockings, gift cards and holiday lunch. If you have questions about the Affiliate Angels, please email eva@gaar.com.

All donations must be returned to GAAR by Friday, December 2nd. 

Bell Ringing for Salvation Army

We also have opportunities to ring bells for the Salvation Army on Wednesdays and Saturdays between Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

By ringing bells for the Salvation Army, we help them continue their social service focus of bridging the gap with assistance when financial hardships occur to keep families independent, self-sustaining, safe and in their homes.

The Salvation Army “Red Kettle Campaign” is critical to their annual fundraising goals.  It is the source for over 65% of Salvation Army Contributions providing Social Services for individuals of Bernalillo, Sandoval and Torrance County. These social services include:

• Emergency Food
• Clothing
• Transportation
• Utility and Rental Assistance
• Medical and Pharmaceutical Assistance
• Meals
• Youth Leadership Development
• Education
• Christmas for Families

When you collect donations for Salvation Army, you can be certain that 83¢ on every dollar goes to directly aid and if you donate to one of their emergency relief funds, 100% of donations goes directly to those in need.

If you would like to volunteer to ring bells, please email  eva@gaar.com  and we will contact you with times and locations.