Undercover Angels Deliver Joy in the Poconos

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life from what we give.” -Winston Churchill

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. But in many respects, it’s also a totally chaotic time of the year. We find ourselves pressed for time, energy and resources as we cook and bake, clean and scrub, and shop for the “perfect” holiday gifts. We do all of this while simultaneously trying to enjoy lights displays, holiday concerts, television specials and more. 

Despite all of the chaos, we all do our best to enjoy the season. But, perhaps there are even more fulfilling ways to celebrate.

The staff at both Woodloch Resort and The Lodge at Woodloch have proudly supported “The Woodloch Angel Tree” program for over two decades. Individual staff members and departments would select names and do some shopping for those less fortunate working within the Woodloch community. 

The housekeeping team at The Lodge at Woodloch decided to take it a step further.

“Before Christmas of 2022, I had a meeting with my team,” says Linda Angermann, manager. “I asked the staff if they’d be interested in donating a dollar each day from their tips in order to adopt a child for Christmas. They all agreed and were excited to do so. We raised $150 to give a nice holiday to a child.” 

Shortly after the holidays, the team met and had the idea to utilize this savings technique to span the entire year. Again, the team agreed. When the dust settled on a very busy 2023 at the Lodge, the team had raised over $2000. After a fun day of shopping, they were able to bring Christmas joy to over 15 children this year. Gifts were loaded into two large SUVs and sent on their way. 

The team even had cash to spare. The remainder was donated to the charitable efforts of KidsPeace, which provides support in behavioral and mental health needs of children, families and communities. Across the Woodloch properties, 25 “angels” and several departments were able to bring a bright and merry holiday to 50 local children.

“My entire team is amazing all year long,” says Linda. “But they shine especially bright with their generosity around the holidays.  They are looking forward to breaking the $2000 mark for 2024!!”