Annual Angel Fund dinner success in Champlain

CHAMPLAIN | The Angel Fund dinner here on Saturday carried on a tradition of Christmas giving. Founded 15 years ago, the event began as a contest between staffing departments at Champlain Peterbilt. Over time, the Angel Fund has grown to raise funds that provide holiday gifts for nearly 100 local children and grocery gift cards for over 100 seniors in Champlain, Mooers, Chazy, Ellenburg, Altona and Rouses Point. One of the founding coordinators, Champlain Peterbilt CFO Susan Roberts, said the Angel Fund helps make children's holidays bright, one dinner plate and donation at a time. On Saturday, the community served 490 dinners. "It was wonderful! It turned out really well. We had a nice steady string of people. We served until we ran out of dinners," Roberts said. In addition to a home-cooked turkey dinner, the event provides a chance for people from neighboring towns to sit down and visit. "I really do believe everybody had a great time. People go there to volunteer, and they're working hard, it's just a great experience. Everyone has a great time," Roberts said Champlain Peterbilt's previous owner Carl Smith has stood by the effort since the start. And new staff at DG Peterbilt joined the Angel team this year. "We've been doing the dinners now for 15 years," Roberts said. "It was another five years before that when Cindy Bombardier first contacted me, she was with JCEO at the time and asked if we could sponsor a few children for Christmas." And the angels' tradition began. MANY ANGELS The company's staff and management team upped the ante with a little merry competition. Different departments created unique menus to try and draw the most diners, Roberts said. "Then, when it got so big and was so well attended, we combined efforts and had our first Angel Fund dinner at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Champlain. We served about 350," she said. "Then we moved to the American Legion Montgomery Post No. 912, working with two other local companies that have since closed." Other business enterprises, local crafters and artisans joined in to offer raffle baskets, prizes and gift certificates to help the Angel Fund grow. "The auction was so well received that the auction and the dinner got into a competition," Roberts chuckled. "We moved to the VFW Post 1418 during Covid and dinner was set up for drive-through take-out. "It's a wonderful facility, the VFW does an awful lot to help us," Roberts said. "They volunteer and support us with everything we need, from help bringing in gift baskets, setting up tables to clean up. I can't say enough about how much we appreciate their participation." Initially, their goal aimed to help children in the villages of Champlain and Rouses Point, Roberts said. "As we grew, we thought: Why can't we also help children around the area? We work with the local schools and JCEOs to distribute gifts for Christmas. And we have wonderful people who do the shopping. Our policy has always looked to needs first. We have children who ask for sheets and pillows, blankets, winter jackets and boots. We try to fulfill their wishes by age level. That's worked out really well." Roberts said they raised $120 the first year. And last year, before dinner costs, they raised $13,000. "And every penny goes back to gifts for children and seniors." Elder support through the Angel Fund started in 2021, Roberts said, when it became clear that a lot of local seniors do without for Christmas. "We buy gift certificates for Price Chopper and ALDI, and these are distributed at senior housing centers in Rouses Point, Mooers, Ellenberg, Altona, Champlain and Chazy. "Seniors are a community and we really wish to honor them for everything they've given to community throughout the years," Roberts said. In 2024, the Angel team provided pre-paid grocery cards to 104 seniors. They purchased Christmas gifts for 90 children. "We're not looking for pats on the back, we're looking for people to come to the dinner," Roberts said. Asked how they named their holiday benefit years ago, Roberts said it started with a placemat design. "We used the image of an angel. We can all be angels," she said. "A contribution expecting something in return isn't a gift. We do what we do and imagine the smiles on the children's faces. Everything we do is for Christmas." DINNER PREP From the very beginning, the cooks felt that everything should be made from scratch, just like a turkey dinner you would have at home with stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, and roasted turkey. Angel Fund community members volunteer to help peel and chop veggies and potatoes for the feast. "People just show up and stay as long as they can stay," Roberts said. "It's such an incredible show of support. And Stephanie Guay is a phenomenal cook." Smith's daughter Kim Lapan said monies raised by the Angel Fund go directly to local communities. "After buying Christmas gifts for children and over 100 grocery cards for seniors, the balance of the money goes between our local JCEO food shelves. It all gets dispersed back into the community," Lapan said. "Last year, we did about 600 dinners. We usually start serving just before noontime if everything is ready." There were 24 meals ordered ahead for Champlain Senior Housing. "That's something they have done for their residents," Lapan said. "We purchased 30 turkeys -- 20 to 25 pounds each -- from Price Chopper. I think we had 300 pounds of potatoes." In the weeks following the Angel Fund turkey dinner in Champlain, a handful of helpers go out to shop. Lapan said it's a three-week turnaround from gathering wishlists to gift delivery. "Children need to have a Christmas," she said. The Angel Fund can accept donations through November, and checks can be mailed to Angel Fund, c/o Champlain Peterbilt, 61 West Service Road, Champlain, NY 12919

Signup for our newsletter

Annual Angel Fund dinner success in Champlain

COMPANY

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

SUBMISSION FORMS

BEYOND THE NEWS