ROBERT PIERCE
• Leader & Times
The holidays are here, bringing joy and cheer to communities around the world.
That joy and cheer is a little less in some homes, though, as many families cannot afford to buy their children Christmas presents.
Many agencies, schools, churches and organizations are helping out with those needs with project such as Angel Trees, and locally, among those is Liberal’s Southwest Medical Center.
SWMC Marketing and Development Director Janeth Vazquez said the hospital’s Angel Tree project started in 2024 through a partnership with the foster care organization TFI Family Services.
“It’s an incredible organization that supports foster children and families across Kansas,” she said.
Vazquez said many of the angels on SWMC’s tree come from foster children, but she is also taking referrals from local organizations and school social workers.
“Our goal is to help as many families and children here in our area,” she said.
All gifts are due back to the hospital by Dec. 19 in order for volunteers to have enough time to organize and deliver presents for children to receive them before Christmas.
Vazquez said TFI Family Services provided a list to her of each family and what each child wanted for Christmas, and she noticed many of the items were basic items such as socks, pants, shoes, jackets, bed covers and hygiene products.
“It’s mixed emotions because we’re happy to be giving back, but at the same time, it’s sad because some of these children are just asking for a pair of socks and toothpaste and a toothbrush,” she said. “I think that shows the need in our community.”
That need, Vazquez said, is extremely big in the Liberal community.
“I know there are other organizations in the community who are also hosting their own Angel Tree,” she said. “There’s probably more than five in town, and I think each one gets extremely busy with families or with the organizations taking referrals. I also think this year has been tough for many families in our community.”
This is why, Vazquez said, SWMC wanted to do something meaningful to help out with the needs.
“The holidays should be a joyful time for kids, but we know that’s not always the case,” she said. “Hosting an Angel Tree allows us to give back directly and brighten the season for children who truly need the support.”
Vazquez said she was also surprised about the ages of some of the foster children on the list for the Angel Tree.
“I did notice there were a lot of younger kids this year,” she said. “I’m talking a six-month old baby, two-year-old toddlers.”
Vazquez said anyone in the community can stop by the hospital’s lobby to pick up an angel from the tree, shop for the child’s wish list and return the gifts.
“We want this to be something anybody can take part in whether they’re an individual, a family or a local business,” she said.
Vazquez said she uses the Angel Tree as an example to her son, Isaiah, age 9, to plant seeds and help others in need.
“I brought my 9-year-old boy to the hospital to pick an angel so he knows the meaning of what the season is,” she said. “It’s a time to give back and to show and care for those in need and also not to take things for granted.”
Vazquez said the project should likewise serve as a lesson for other children.
“There are children who are really in need,” she said. “Not everybody has the privilege of getting Christmas gifts.”
While the SWMC Angel Tree is primarily focused on children’s needs, Vazquez said those who donate can give fun items as presents as well.
“At the end of the day, I can’t tell people in the community what to buy,” she said. “It’s all about being generous and giving what’s in your heart, but as a reminder, these children are asking for basic items they need. We also have to remember Christmas is supposed to be a joyful time, and when children start going back to school, they all start sharing stories about what the received for Christmas. I guarantee the majority of them got some kind of toy, and that’s something we need to keep at the back of our minds.”
Above all else, Vazquez said the holidays need to be a joyful time for kids.
“Yes we have to meet their basic needs by giving them the basic stuff they need, but also keep in mind, when you were a kid, you wanted a toy,” she said. “Every child deserves that joy during this holiday season.”
For Vazquez, the Angel Tree is at the heart of SWMC’s mission of serving the community.
“Health care goes beyond medical care,” she said. “It’s about supporting families, standing together and creating moments of joy, and hosting an Angel Tree is only one way we can live out those values.”
Vazquez said everyone who is able to participate is encouraged to do so.
“Even one gift can make a huge difference in a child’s holiday, and we’re grateful for the generosity we see in our community every year,” she said. “We hope this year brings even more kindness and support.”
For more information about the SWMC Angel Tree, call Vazquez at 620-629-6335,
“I also manage all the social media pages for the hospital, so they can send me a message on Facebook or any of the social media platforms, or they can just stop by the lobby and pick an angel,” she said. “If there’s a family in need, please reach out to me. We started with the foster care organizations, but we opened up to the community because we know there’s a bigger need. I’m also taking referrals from the social workers at school, but if there’s a family who’s in need, call me. I can work something out with them.”
Vazquez said she is excited for Dec. 19 and what will become of the Angel Tree.
“We collect all the toys, and the organization comes and picks them up and takes them to the children,” she said. “We don’t really ever get to see their faces when they get the toys, but I can imagine.”
Growing up in a low-income family as a child, Vazquez still received a present each year, but she knew there were children who did not receive gifts.
“It’s sad when you go back to school and everybody is sharing all the amazing things got, and you have one child in the corner who probably isn’t speaking because they’re embarrassed or sad they didn’t receive anything,” she said. “We just need to keep everything in mind. Holidays are supposed to be a joyful time, but they can also be stressful emotionally and financially. At the end of the day, we have to remember to be kind and to put our part.”
Vazquez said her heart is filled by giving back and seeing a child smile when they receive a toy. This Christmas season, she said she is thankful to live in a community where everyone is there to help one another out.
“I always say Liberal’s the friendliest city in the whole nation, and it truly is because we always come together when there’s a need,” she said. “I feel in this community during the holiday season, we always contribute and help those who are in need whether it’s for Thanksgiving, holiday meals or it’s Christmas. At the end of the day, we always come together and help those in need, and I truly am thankful to live in a community that genuinely cares for one another.”
