Real angels on assignment showed up this year to make sure all the angels off the Lions Angel Trees and Golden Angel Tree had a very Merry Christmas.

Iris Park, who has chaired the Lions Club Angel Tree Program for six years and is also a board member of the Heartland Heritage Museum & Gallery and president of the Checotah Art Guild (CAG), was grateful for all the help from local businesses, organizations and volunteers in the community.

“With over 200 angels (students) on the Lions Angels Trees this year and 64 angels (senior citizens) on the CAG Golden Angel Tree, it took an army of volunteers to get both of these projects done during this extremely busy season,” Park said.

“Every year it takes several days of shopping and sorting all the gifts to be given away to our students and seniors who might not have a very good Christmas without our help. Yet year after year our community shows up and donates not just the angel gifts or the means for us to purchase gifts, but many donate their time and resources to sort, bag and get these gifts to their destinations. “After filling up all the hallways of the our church with hundreds of bags of toys, shoes and clothing, and checking lists twice, then transporting everything with the help of fellow Lions, Checotah Public School staff, Checotah FFA students with stock trailers, and Checotah Art Guild members, you sort of feel like Santa Claus with lots of elves!

“First our Lions members, school volunteers and extra helpers all worked diligently to shop, sort, package and literally ‘deck the halls’ of the Methodist church with hundreds of gifts. Then Checotah FFA came and helped load Tony Field’s stock trailer and even a second trailer to transport everything. Finally all the bags of gifts were delivered to the school where over a hundred parents came to gather their children’s Santa gifts from the Lions Angel Trees.”

Those who helped make Christmas wishes come true this year included these special helpers: Cassie Cutbirth Katelyn Walker Jaide Wallace Shawnna Wilhite Tami Duvall Tera Jones Iris Park Carolyn Hutcherson Spring Morrow Monty Morrow Tony Fields Mark Watson Randy Nester Robert Jennings Marsha Danner Holly Lackey Lyndon Burnett Zachary Ilbery Trey Anderson Chyanne Davidson Sophie McGuire Avery Williams Macee Glover Joslyn Ellifritt Kyrin Bedonie Tylie Moody Peyton Crittenden (Howell) Daisy Prince Alyssa Johnson Dylan Johnson Flavio Gemma “Thanks to Casey’s Auto Detailing of Warner who held a toy drive and donated many toys to the Angel Tree Program this year,” Park said. “Also special thanks to individual donations, the Methodist Mission, the Masonic Lodge, Checotah Perk and CAG members who went above and beyond to help with the Golden Angel Tree.”

Spring Morrow, who is also a member of the Checotah Lions Club and was newly appointed to the Heartland Heritage Board in November, helped make an immediate impact by gathering donations and support from the community for the local nursing home angels in need. She was also able to get support from outside the community through a lifelong friend whose donation completed the purchases for all the senior angels left on the CAG Golden Angel Tree.

“My dear friend of over thirty years, Victor Cooper, along with his family, generously donated $500 for the Golden Angel Tree gifts for the Checotah Nursing Home,” Morrow said. “Their kindness is truly overwhelming. This act of generosity reminds us that giving back knows no boundaries. It’s about the connections we’ve made and the lives we’ve touched over the years. So I encourage everyone to consider giving back, whether it’s in your own community or beyond. Your kindness can make a difference anywhere!

“After months of planning, organizing, shopping, sorting and volunteering in so many areas in her community, perhaps the sweetest angel is our real angel, Iris Park, who manages to do everything in stride. This angel simply amazes me!” Morrow said.

Others in the community also sang Park’s praises. Like Pastor Mark Watson who stated, “Iris Park, who in her 80s can still run circles around those in their 40s, is one of the biggest blessings to our community.”

Holly Lackey with the Checotah Chamber of Commerce praised Park for being involved in so many community organizations that give back to others not just at Christmas but year round. “Iris is one of the busiest people I know and is always volunteering her time and efforts for someone else in need.”

Heartland Heritage board member and local journalist LaDonna Rhodes remarked, “There is only one Iris Park and she never ceases to amaze me as she runs circles around most of us. One day, when I grow up, I want to be just like Iris Park,and maybe even jump out of a plane at 80 like she did.”

Park’s granddaughter, Julie LaRue, had this to say about her.

“I enjoy being the granddaughter of Iris in our small community because I get to hear so many stories of how she’s inspired so many to be like her. Sometimes it’s hard to share her but I also want to be just like her and be willing to lend a hand where I can. Thanks to her for being such a wonderful Nana and role model for her grandchildren and for all who know just how much she loves to give back to her community. She really is an angel.”