STROUDSBURG, Pa. — Tags hang on the Christmas tree inside the Willowtree Inn Restaurant in Stroudsburg.
But they're not Christmas decorations; instead, they represent Children in need of a Christmas gift this year.
"We have the kid's names, their ages, and then their wish list. We have them bunched in families. So it might seem like a lot at first, but we definitely encourage you to reach out to your own network and...help you put together these gift bags," said Corissa Gehring, an employee with the Willowtree Inn Restaurant.
The restaurant is just one of many locations sponsoring tags for children through Angels and Dragonflies Children's Charity at the First Baptist Church of East Stroudsburg.
Founder Sherry Scott says this year more than 550 children are in need this Christmas.
That's almost double the number of children from last year.
"Communities are having a hard time paying for the groceries. You know if they do have a job. If they don't have a job, a lot of people were, you know, let go from their position or cut back their hours. whatever it may be. We don't ask questions where a lot of them require income verification, and things like that don't require that. So we got hit a little harder," said Scott.
If you don't want to sponsor a child, you can also drop off new and unwrapped gifts at Best Auto Service Center in Pocono Township near Tannersville. The business, along with several others is collecting toys for children.
"We need the community to help us out. You can spend $40, you can spend $140 it's all up to you to give that child a Christmas," said Scott.
The nonprofit runs on donations, but those have been coming in much slower this year.
Scott is hopeful people will help provide a little Christmas to a child in need.
"We're just taking the weight off some of their shoulders and taking the stress away from them and not worrying about kids having a Christmas. The biggest thing is having toys for Christmas to open up," Scott said.
All toys must be dropped off by December 11th.
Angel Tree donation locations
- Willie Mae's Place, 1289 US-209, Gilbert, PA 18331
- Journey's Day Spa, 1930 PA-940, Pocono Pines, PA 18350
- Relaxed Concierge LLC, Blakeslee Estates, PA, United States, Pennsylvania
- Big Wheel Roller Skating, 3226 N 5th St, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
- Willowtree Inn Restaurant, 601 Ann St, Stroudsburg, PA 18360
- Farmhouse Poconos, 15 Crystal Street, East Stroudsburg, PA
- Pocono Mountain Harley Davidson, 110 Hill Motor Lodge Rd, Tannersville, PA 18372
- Pocono Family YMCA, 809 Main St, Stroudsburg, PA 18360
- Pocono Kidz Zone LLC, Second Floor, 247 Fox Run Ln Suite 201, East Stroudsburg, PA 18302
Toy Drop Box donation bin locations
- CKB Auto, 6658 PA-191, Cresco, PA 18326
- Best Auto Service & Tire Repair, 2945 PA-611, Tannersville, PA 18372
- McGraw Chiropractic Care, 115 Learn Rd, Tannersville, PA 18372
- KD's Dominican Salon, 2836 Route 611, Tannersville, PA 18372-7803
- Willie Mae's Place, 1289 US-209, Gilbert, PA 18331
- Skylanes Bowling Center, 100 Eagle Valley Mall, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
- Citizens Savings Bank, 1421 Pocono Blvd, Mt Pocono, PA 18344
- Journey's Day Spa, 1930 PA-940, Pocono Pines, PA 18350
- Vera Bradley, 1000 Premium Outlets Dr Suite E04, Tannersville, PA 18372