East Cobb Rotary's affiliation as a community partner with the Salvation Army connected the club with this year's Angel Tree project. Each angel ornament represented a family in need of help at Christmas time in particular. On December 7, 2016, twelve (12) East Cobb Rotarians (19% of club members) prepared 150 gift bags for distribution to approved requesting families served by the Salvation Army. Volunteers checked bags to determine if enough right-aged toys and right-sized clothes were included in the bag. In those instances where amounts were insufficient, Rotarians selected from a supply of donated resources to ensure that the bags were "just right". These bags were then "rebagged" into a larger family bag for ultimate distribution to identified families. Rotarian volunteers also restocked the toys, clothes and blankets sections of supplies so when additional items were needed they would be readily available.
The 150 bags prepared by East Cobb Rotarians were to reach and benefit about 300 children and families for purposes of maternal, child and senior well being at no direct cost to the club. However, a gift of $700 will be presented to the Salvation Army at the club's Dog Days Give Back Breakfast on March 8th, 2017.