With the holiday season quickly approaching, not only is it the perfect time to spend time with family and friends but, it is also the time to give back to your community. There are so many different opportunities to give back this holiday season such as Toys for Tots, Make-a-Wish Foundation, One Simple Wish, and Angel Tree.
Angel Tree, originally created by the Salvation Army, is a way for struggling children to receive gifts during the holiday season. An adult registers the child, and once they are registered, they can share their “wish list” with the Angel Tree program, which then lists it on their platforms.
Currently, Angel Tree is trending all over TikTok with many influencers, and daily TikTok users creating videos of them “adopting” a kid from the tree and making videos of them shopping for everything that angel wants. With Angel Tree trending in the media, it is helpful to spread awareness about the program and to be able to give people the opportunity to give back to the community in not only ways of community service.
@eatswithevad I am so excited about that play kitchen! Feeling grateful I was able to participate this year #angeltree #angeltreeshopping #angeltreeprogram #giveback #christmasshopping #christmas #walmart ♬ original sound – Eva ☕️
The Salvation Army goes through every box of received and donated toys to check for damages, food, or any safety precautions. Also, if not all Angels were selected from the tree, the Salvation Army will add extra toys, clothing and daily necessities to the child’s box to help provide them with the best Christmas. On average people spend around $50-$70 in gifts while donating.
Even though Angel Tree is supposed to be viewed as a way to give back to your community, some people on TikTok are viewing it as a way to make commission on their video. For example, on social media, Louisa Melcher on TikTok decided to go out of their way to purchase name brand items for their angel —such as a PlayStation 5, Chanel earrings, items from Marc Jacobs, and many more name branded items.
She had a mentality that she would be able to afford to go above and beyond to provide her angel with memorable Christmas gifts because the commission she will make off of the TikTok video should be enough to cover her financially. However, when she did not meet the views needed to get the cash out from the social media app, she announced she would be taking back her Angel Tree gifts.
Melcher announced on her TikTok, “I was relying on those earnings from that video to offset those costs which were $15,900, I spoke with my financial advisor he said if you want to meet your financial goals for this year you will need to gather those losses.”
With that being said the comments underneath that video have been receiving a lot of mixed reviews such as, “True kindness happens with nobody is watching!!!” and, “You can’t be seriously be blaming us viewers for you not being able to support this???”
@loulouorange I really hope it’s not too late for these children to be selected by a different donor but unfortunately it might be #angeltree #angeltreeshopping #gifts #giving #xmas #christmas #shopping ♬ original sound – Louisa Melcher
Despite some TikTok influencers getting some bad reactions for sharing their Angel Tree gifts, there are also many families who have been sharing their gratitude on the app for those who have donated to their families this holiday season. Angel Tree has been able to give their children gifts under the tree, instead of having an empty home on Christmas morning.
This holiday season it is important to be close and spend time with the people who you love, and, a time to help someone in need. Most of all, it is important to stay within your boundaries and to always do a good deed no matter if an audience is watching.
