Though not in typical fashion, Meet Me at the Court and The Bailey Family will proceed with the Sharion Bailey Whitlock Angel Tree, an annual program that is intended to help to brighten the holidays for local families in need.
The program is usually centered around Christmas on the Court, an event that is filled with a day’s worth of activities, including food, entertainment, photos with Santa, a chili cook-off, food and toy drives, games, gift giveaways and decorating the Sharion Bailey Whitlock Angel Tree to donate to a local family.
With coronavirus (COVID-19) cases spiking during the holiday season, Veronica Bailey — organizer and sister of the late Whitlock, who died in 2012 following an illness — said family members decided not to host Christmas on the Court this year.
However, Bailey said her son James Curley said the family could still assist low-income families and senior citizens for Christmas, via the Sharion Bailey Whitlock Angel Tree project.
Normally, residents who wish to participate in the program submit the names of intended recipients and the gifts on their holiday wish lists.
Names are then selected from the submissions and volunteers deliver gifts to area residents.
This year, Bailey said SBWAT gifts will be delivered by mail, noting that volunteers will not be able to make their usual rounds to deliver presents door to door.
The deadline to submit information for the SBWAT is noon Friday.
“Due to the pandemic, I really didn’t feel that it would be safe. My son came up with the idea to do it by mail,” she said. “I told him I really wanted to do the Angel Tree this year and I figured that would be a good way to do it in a safe and healthy manner — do it by mail.”
Those who sign up for the SBWAT will receive one of three presents: a gift certificate, gift card or cash, all at the choice of volunteers.
Recipients may not request specific gifts, Bailey said.
“What they receive, they’ll be able to choose or pick out what they would like so we’re going to do it that way,” she explained. “Me and my family choose, based on what’s been donated to us. We will give until the gifts are gone.”
“Some gift certificates will come from stores, sports stores, restaurants. It’s just going to be a variety of things that we’re going to be giving away this year in Sharion’s name,” Bailey continued.
She said the presents will be enclosed in Christmas cards that will arrive in the mail.
The deadline for submissions will allow volunteers ample time to stuff and address envelopes and for the Christmas cards to be delivered by Christmas, Bailey said, adding that consideration will primarily be given to children and senior citizens.
For more information or to submit a name, call Bailey at 870-310-0391.