By: Dan Childs

For the Annapolis, Maryland, Corps, the generosity of one of its neighbors couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time. That generosity will pay dividends in just a few months not only for the corps but for struggling families as well.

The Macy’s department store at Annapolis’ Westfield Mall has donated more than 400 dresses and suits for children ranging in size from 2T to 20 Youth. The gift will allow Captains Robert and Emily Vincent to get a head start on their Angel Tree program in a year of widespread economic distress.

Captain Emily Vincent said the Annapolis Corps usually serves about 500 families and 1,700 children through its Angel Tree program in a normal year. But with the lingering threat of the coronavirus and the economic uncertainty that accompanies it, 2020 has been anything but a normal year.

“We’re anticipating the need to be greater this year because of the pandemic,” Captain Emily said of the Angel Tree program, “but we also expect that our donations will be down as well. I’m sure we’ll be strapped because of it, so this is a huge blessing.”

She said that Angel Tree signups have been held at the Westfield Mall in the past, but she is not aware of any previous donations from the Macy’s store. She said the donation, which was coordinated by Richelle Thomas of the Macy’s staff, consisted of dresses and suits from the store’s spring collection.

“The clothes are just beautiful – they make me wish I was young enough to wear them!” Captain Emily said. “The prices of the items range from $64 to about $150 retail price, so when you consider the number donated, that’s a crazy amount of money. We were blown away by the generosity of Macy’s!”