The angels among us come in all sizes, shapes, genders and ages. They quietly enter our lives and just as quietly leave when their mission is accomplished. While angels are busy year round, their best work is done during the holidays, bringing comfort and joy to those who need it the most.

It doesn't take much to become an angel: just a little bit of love, understanding and concern for those who are less fortunate in life, according to Carol Tempest, an employee at Cal's Auto and Tire Service in Hometown.It's been almost 10 years since Tempest, along with Cal and Deb Hill, became involved with the Angel Tree program at the Tamaqua Salvation Army. It began with the women talking about the smiles on children's faces on Christmas morning, as well as the tough times some acquaintances were facing. It remained talk until Tempest saw an Angel Tree placed in her church. She and Deb decided to each take a tag and went shopping."Neither of us have children, so it was different shopping for a child. I took my tag to Boscov's. There I am, standing in the children's department, with no clue. I was a little overwhelmed. The thought of doing something that would make such a difference in someone else's life actually brought tears to my eyes. Thank goodness one of the store clerks offered to help," she chuckles.The next year, they became aware of the Salvation Army's program and asked Cal if they could place an Angel Tree in the business. One has been there every year since. "We go all-out decorating for the holiday at Cal's," says Tempest, "beginning after Thanksgiving." Once we put up the Christmas tree, our little Angel Tree looks like it belongs to Charlie Brown. Every so often, someone will make fun of it, until we explain what it is. Then, most people take a tag."Program detailsFor the past four years, Dina Depos has been coordinating and overseeing the Angel Tree program, as well as many other Salvation Army programs. This year, she notes there are 350 children, babies to the age of 12, who have been registered for the program. The children live within the Sal's coverage area, which includes southeastern Schuylkill and southwestern Carbon Counties."Families registered for the Angel Tree program are also registered for the Marine Corps League's Toys For Tots program," Depos said. "So, while toys are listed on the individual tags, we hope our 'angels' concentrate more on the clothing listed for each child." She does note though that the toys on the tags are child specific, while Toys For Tots is more generalized by age and gender.This year's deadline for tags to be returned is Dec. 10. "We have to select a date that will give us time to sort, inspect and itemize each donated item," Depos said. "It's a lot of work but it's worth it when a parent tells you how happy their child is going to be on Christmas morning." She is hoping some of the recipient families will be willing to share their Christmas morning photos for a collage to show donors.Angel Trees can be found in many locations in the Tamaqua area: Cal's, the Salvation Army, the Chamber of Commerce office, Tamaqua Borough Hall and the Times News Tamaqua office, as well as at Hiles Brothers in Summit Hill, Carbon County. The Hometown and Lehighton Walmarts are also participating through the "Fill The Truck" program. Boxes for donated clothing, toys and food items will be placed in both stores during the next two weekends.Paying it forwardDepos and Tempest both remember times when they were children, when their grandmothers would collect their unused toys to send back to their home countries. "We learned early that not everyone is as blessed as we are," notes Depos, who remembers a childhood trip to Greece. "We took a few toys with us, which my mom then gave away to the children in the village. The only toys those children had were those made at home, by hand. There we were with our Barbies, while their dolls were made of straw, sticks and fabric scraps. Seeing what we had compared to others who had so little left a lasting impression."Both women agree anonymity is a large part of the program, with neither wanting credit nor publicity for themselves. "It's the children who are important," Tempest said."It was all brought home to me when a friend decided to take a tag one year. When she told her mother about it, the woman broke down in tears, explaining that my friend was once an Angel Tree recipient. That made me cry, too. It's what it's all about, lending a helping hand."