Musculoskeletal Associates donates to Albany Advocacy Resource Center Angel Tree program

ALBANY — As a way to make sure the consumers of Albany Advocacy Resource Center had a decent Christmas this year, an Albany business did its part to get some gifts under the tree at the agency’s Adult Day Living Center on Thursday.

Musculoskeletal Associates (MSA) made donations to 20 “angels” from the Albany ARC’s annual Angel Tree for the consumers ranging from preschool age to senior citizens.

For MSA, the donation is part of the company Christmas celebration. Employees divide up into teams with each team picking a charity to serve while making a two-minute video on the process. Whichever team wins will see their respective charity get an additional donation.

The goal, however, is to get involved in such organizations that serve others.

“These are needy people, and we thought this was one we could best help,” said Paige Hamsley with MSA. “Everybody deserves something for Christmas.

“The stuff there that individuals asked for are not necessarily something they want, but something they need.”

As part of their project, MSA put an Albany ARC Angel Tree — roughly nine feet tall — at Lee County Middle School and made more than 20 angels for students and staff to adopt, which adds to the 20 gifts the MSA employees donated themselves.

On Thursday, several employees came out to the ARC Adult Day Center on West Broad Avenue and put the gifts under the tree with the ARC Santa Claus Robert Smith sitting nearby.

“We are just so grateful for the community support,” said Nancy Reimer, vice president of the Albany ARC board. “MSA is very helpful and is a blessing to our community.”

Each year, the agency’s consumers have a wish list that is divided up and put on the tree. Once they are on the tree, anyone — including ARC employees or board members — are encouraged to pick an “angel” off the tree and bring the gift back to the ARC to brighten someone’s holiday.

“All of our consumers are disabled in some form, and this brightens their day … it makes their Christmas better,” Reimer said.

“We consider ourselves fortunate to be part of the Albany community.”

As a thank you, the event was ended with the MSA employees receiving a tour of the facility and a Christmas carol sing-along from the agency’s staff and consumers, including a solo performance of “Silent Night” by Emily Wallace, one of several of the consumers participating.