Courthouse Staff Deliver 50 Holiday Gifts Through Angel Tree

EDWARDSVILLE — Employees and officials at the Madison County Courthouse, along with a private firm, recently joined forces to brighten the holiday season for local families through the Angel Tree program.

Associate and Circuit Judges, Criminal Justice Center Circuit Clerks, judicial assistants, court reporters, Assistant State’s Attorneys and staff, sheriff’s deputies, and representatives from the private firm Buckley and Buckley collaborated to complete 50 Angel Tree gift packages this year. The effort, coordinated in part by Judge Kyle Napp and Margaret Freer, aimed to provide children in the region with gifts during the Christmas season.

“This is the second year they have participated in the Angel Tree program," Margaret Freer said of the courthouse efforts. "We love being able to give back to the community, and helping families and children at Christmas is what it is all about." Freer is also one of the key coordinators of the annual Community Christmas efforts.

Freer noted that Judge Napp and courthouse staff worked diligently to ensure each child received everything on their wish list. “They really do a tremendous job with this,” Freer said. “They work really hard to make sure the kids get everything on their list, and they do this with love.”

Judge Napp expressed satisfaction with the results. “I was super happy with the results, and it gives us a lot of pleasure and joy to do something for the community that is positive,” she said.

The Angel Tree tags were distributed among courthouse employees who volunteer to fulfill the gift requests. Judge Napp explained that the tags are typically claimed quickly: “I pick up tags from Margaret, 50 Angel Tree tags, and once I get here, we send out an email. If you want to get one, you can. Usually, they’re gone before I have a chance to finish the email.”

The courthouse community plans to expand the program next year by increasing the number of tags to 75. “Everybody looks forward to doing it,” Napp said. “Doing this makes us feel we are doing something positive to give back.”

The initiative holds particular meaning for those working in the criminal justice system, who often encounter defendants who are parents struggling with custody or employment issues.

Napp saluted Freer, who has been involved in community giving for many years, and said, "She doesn’t do it for recognition. She is a force, and she is amazing, and we are lucky to have her in the community.”