Daring to Bring Dreams to Life

Dreams of a floor covered in brightly wrapped gifts spilling out from under a twinkling Christmas tree fill many children’s waking and sleeping moments this time of year. Their imaginations run wild as to what will be revealed when they rip the paper from the packages…

But several children in the Union area may not even dare dream this childhood fantasy.

And that is where the local Angel Tree program steps in…to bring a small portion of this dream to life for Union children who may not receive any Christmas gifts otherwise.

The Angel Tree at the United Bank of Union location on Main Street.

 Sponsored by area clubs and businesses, the Angel Tree gives each child in the program three gifts as well as a ham to each family. The children are referred to the program by a very reliable source, according to Aaron Hall, the program’s organizer. The Angel Tree does not accept applications, but all children and families reside in the Union School District.

How can you participate in the program? Simply…

• Pick up an angel at any of the three United Bank of Union locations.
• Purchase a gift for the child on the angel – age, clothing sizes, and interests are listed on the angel.
• Return your wrapped gift, with the angel attached to it, to any United Bank of Union location by December 14^th.

A few of the angels that are waiting for you.

Then, Santa and his elves deliver the gifts. Kiwanis members dress up as Santa Claus and Union High School Key Clubbers as elves, and the organizers deliver the dreams and fulfill a bit of the Christmas fantasy.

According to Hall, the Angel Tree program serves an average of 40 families and 120 kids each year. Hall does not know when the program began. A similar program, the Giving Tree, is in its 15^th year at Central Elementary and Clark-Vitt Elementary. Students there have the opportunity to choose angels at school to purchase Christmas gifts for.

Sponsors of the Angel Tree program include United Bank of Union, Middle School National Junior Honor Society, Union High School Key Club, Strubberg Accounting, Union Kiwanis Club, Ameren UE, and Dollar General.

The United Bank of Union locations are:

15 E. Main in downtown Union

Monday - Thursday 8 A.M. - 3 P.M.

Friday 8 A.M. - 6 P.M.

Saturday 8 A.M. - 12 Noon

1440 Rebel Road, next to Wal-Mart, lobby hours of 9 am to 7 pm

Monday - Friday 9 A.M. - 7 P.M.

Saturday 8 A.M. - 2 P.M.

210 West Hwy. 50, across from Sonic, lobby hours of 9 am to 6 pm

Monday - Friday 8 A.M. - 6 P.M.

Saturday 8 A.M. - 12 Noon

Stop by today to choose your angel to bless with a gift. The price of the gift is whatever you are comfortable spending. If you are able, don’t hesitate to pick up more than one angel to shop for this year…you will be glad you did!

The angels we picked up today.

Where in Union? {November 19}

Where in Union is this? If you know and are the first one to correctly comment on the blog post or the Facebook post, you will win a $25 gift certificate from GAME OVER!

Please comment with the exact location, including street/streets, buildings, any identifying landmarks, and even GPS coordinates. The first correct comment wins the prize. Please be as specific as possible!

A Sought After Shopping Destination {UMS Craft Fair}

Did you know that Union hosts one of the largest craft fairs in the state of Missouri? Yes, right here in our middle school, over 300 booths, representing arts and crafts from many different states, set up a little shop in the gyms, halls, classrooms, and cafeteria. And  thousands of people from a good 2 hour radius descend onto Union to shop until they drop.

Have you stopped by the UMS Craft Fair yet? By shopping at the fair, you are not only supporting small home businesses who have booths, but you are also supporting the middle school, the band, and the town of Union.

It's a vicious cycle:

• UMS teachers, parents, and students organize and host the craft fair
• artists and vendors purchase booth space in the fair (with the money going directly to UMS)
• YOU and other shoppers purchase items at the craft fair (money goes to the small businesses and hobbyists)
• artists and vendors as well as shoppers eat and spend time in Union over the weekend (money going to local businesses)

Yep, this event supports the community, the school, and local businesses, and you get to shop and pick up Christmas gifts and a thing or two for yourself.

Here is the important info:

November 10 to 11, 2012
Saturday 8 am - 4 pm
Sunday 10 am - 4 pm

Union Middle School
503 West End Avenue
Union, MO

Oh, and there are coupons to use at the craft fair! On Friday (update: CLICK HERE to get the coupons!), I will post a link on the Experience Union Facebook page to download an app with the coupons. There will be a printable version as well in case you don't have an iPhone or Android smartphone to use the app.

{P.S. Coupon app is sponsored by Marcink Designs, and all booths that have a coupon will be donating to our local Giving Tree program that gives Christmas gifts to local kids who may not otherwise receive any gifts. So be sure to visit the booths with coupons!}

Marcink Designs booth last year at UMS

What kinds of items can you find at the craft fair? Pretty much anything imaginable. Here are just a few of the items:

• soaps and candles
• beaded jewelry
• spoon rings and bracelets
• aluminum can airplanes
• clutches and purses
• tutus and headbands
• Christmas trees and ornaments
• wooden deer and snowmen
• mice in a tin can
• shabby chic chalkboards
• wine charms
• lamps
• kettle corn
• cupcakes
• rugs
• leather gun holsters
• floral wreaths
• wire jewelry
• wood name plates
• copper art
• knit baby hats
• dog collars
• stained glass
• washer pendants
• crystal potpourri
• pretzels
• glassware
• notecards
• mandolins
• wheelthrown pottery
• potato bags and dishcloths
• old world spices
• corkscrews
• aprons
• leather wallets
• chocolates
• key fobs
• wooden toys
• and lots and lots and LOTS more!

So come say "hi" to Gussie and I at booth 58/59 in the big gym, across from the men's restroom. Mention you are an Experience Union fan, and we'll give you a little treat!

Sweet Madelynne and Little Elephant Company booth last year at UMS.