CAIRO- Wheelers Christmas Tree Farm in Cairo knows the true meaning of Christmas is about giving and not receiving. That is why the company is in their sixth year of their Christmas Tree Angel Program.

According to Della Lovett, the Christmas Tree Angel Program was the brainchild of her nephew.

“My nephew called our first year of being open,” she explained. “He lives in Iowa and asked if since he couldn’t buy a tree this year, he could pay for someone else to get one who might not have one.”

The next day, the Christmas Tree Angel Program was born.

The program partners with local agencies such as, the school system, Thomasville Street Feed, and the Thomasville Community Resource Center, to receive names of families who are in need of a Christmas tree.

Once Lovett receives a list, she emails out requests to see if anyone would like to be a Christmas tree angel.

Christmas tree angels pay for 50% of the cost of the tree, while Wheelers donates the other 50%.

“As soon as one family leaves with a Christmas tree, I call the next person on the list,” Lovett said.

Since the inception of the program, the list of tree angels has grown so long, that Lovett began to see the same few always receive a call. She has now added a way for both families and angels to get a sense of warmth about the giving and receiving.

Every angel is put on a wooden angel ornament that adorns a tree at Wheeler’s Tree Farm. When the family receiving the donation arrives at the farm, Lovett has the child pick an angel, who Lovett can then call and let them know, they have been chosen to provide a tree for a family.

“It sort of evened the playing field,” she said. “I was starting to get calls with angels wondering if they would still be able to donate a tree, while others were getting called year after year, and I wanted everyone to be a part of this if they wanted.”

For those who don’t want to wait for a phone call, donors can also give Christmas tree decorations. Lovett asks that the decorations be new. However, she does realize that some individuals change their Christmas tree theme every year, and said she will accept gently used ornaments and decorations to provide families with. Donations can be dropped off at Miss Myrt’s or the tree farm.

Providing the families with both a tree and decorations is only part of the amazing experience the Christmas Tree Angel Program provides.

Lovett explained that families who have been chosen to receive a Christmas tree will be mailed a postcard, inviting them to the tree farm. On the back of the card, children are able to write a letter to Father Christmas that they can turn in once they arrive.

Upon arrival, families are taken to choose their tree, while kids have the chance to play on the treehouse playground, play games and roast marshmallows by the fire pit.

“The crews don’t have any idea who is a Christmas Tree Angel family and who isn’t,” Lovett said. “I want every family to have the exact same experience.”

Lovett said when taking names from the agencies, she only has two pieces of criteria she asks them to meet.

She asks that if at all possible, families who have children find some mode of transportation to the farm, so the young kids can experience the magic.

“I want the kids to run around and argue over what tree is the best,” she said. “I want them to see the tree be cut down. I don’t want us to pick a tree and then drop it off at their door.”

Lovett also wants the trees to stay in the homes of those who is it designed to go to.

Other than that, she said she is happy to help provide trees to as many families as she can.

In 2022, Wheelers Tree Farm provided trees to 40 families who would otherwise not have one.

This year, Lovett hopes to provide 100 trees to families from the Cairo and Thomasville area.

The farm will open on Friday, November 29, where families can begin cutting down their trees.

She asks that anyone interested in donating decorations or willing to help pay for a tree contact her via the Wheelers Christmas Tree Farm Facebook page. For those who don’t have Facebook, she said she can be reached at 229-377-3116.