Warwick. Angel Tree is an annual Warwick tradition during Home for the Holidays

On Sunday, Nov. 21, the downtown district in the Village of Warwick celebrated the opening day of the annual Home for the Holidays. And there is one popular mainstay during the holidays that has always deserved more attention than many of the other traditions.

The Angel Tree is again located on Main Street between Akin’s Drug Store and Newhard’s The Home Source and will be displayed throughout the holiday season

And the changes, which were instituted last year during the pandemic, will continue this year .

In the past and pre-COVID-19 days, the annual Angel Tree had benefited the Warwick Ecumenical Food Pantry.

Shoppers were urged to take a tag and purchase a suggested gift or supermarket item which would eventually find its way to the Food Pantry.

However, because of the pandemic restrictions and the difficulties of distributing a toy or clothing accessory, the Warwick Merchant Guild had to make some changes.

And once again this year’s Angel Tree program will continue those changes and solicit only monetary donations for local non-profit organizations because of the difficulties of distributing a toy or clothing accessory.

The non-profits include the Warwick Ecumenical Food Pantry, the Warwick Humane Society, the Warwick Historical Society, the Community Center, Winslow Therapeutic Center and Backpack Snack Attack.

Donors simply select the organization they would like to support from the Angel Tree and forward their donation in any amount they choose.

- Roger Gavan