BERRYVILLE, VA (Nov. 1, 2021) In recent years, the Clarke County Department of Social Services has coordinated gift programs for Clarke residents who need some joy during the holiday season. This year, the program aims to reach more people who can help in order to deliver more gifts to those who have little.

“We want to ensure that every child and every senior has a joyful holiday,” said DSS director Jen Parker, who began working in Clarke in January 2021. She began her social services career in 1994 and was most recently director of the Rappahannock County Department of Social Services, an agency similar in size to Clarke County.

This fall, Parker and her DSS staff organized the most ambitious “Angel Tree” program ever. 

Christmas trees are in six locations: Berryville Auto Parts (111 W. Main St.), Berryville-Clarke County Government Center (101 Chalmers Ct.), Christ Church Millwood (809 Bishop Meade Rd.), Boyce Town Hall (23 E. Main St.), Duncan Memorial UMC (210 E. Main St., Berryville), and Social Services (311 E. Main St., Berryville).

All six trees are decorated with gift tags that include the wishes of local children under the age 18, seniors 60 and older, and disabled persons. Individuals who want to be “angels” may take tags from the trees and purchase the gifts. Then, deliver gifts to the Social Services office in Berryville by Dec. 10 to ensure adequate time for gifts to be distributed. Attach the original Angel Tree tags to gifts, so they can be given to the proper recipients.

Angel Tree gift tags only include clothing sizes and a few reasonable likes and wants for the holiday. Names of gift recipients are confidential because of requirements set forth by HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996).

There are more than 900 Clarke residents living in poverty, according to the Virginia Department of Social Services Office of Research and Planning. The 911 individuals living in poverty represent 585 households and include more than 200 children. VDSS data are based on the county’s population in 2019 (14,619), and the COVID-19 pandemic has most likely affected more residents.

Parents and guardians of children may contact Clarke County Social Services by Nov. 12 to have a child added to the Angel Tree program. Individuals 60 and older and disabled persons may add themselves or be added by acquaintances.

This is Parker’s first holiday season in Clarke County, and she is overwhelmed by the positive response the Angel Tree program has received. “I love the Clarke County community,” Parker said. “It is a very supportive and heart-warming community.

For more information about Angel Trees or the other programs the Department of Social Services supports, contact Parker at (540) 955-3700 or jennifer.l.parker@dss.virginia.gov. Or, go to www.clarkecounty.gov/government/social-services.