Alex Paul
The annual Community Sharing Tree is in full swing, Fire Chief Mike Beaver told The New Era last week.
“We have a group of wives of firefighters who are doing much of the prep work this year,” Chief Beaver said. That group is led by Dianna Huenergardt.
“They have taken over a good share of the program and that’s really helping take a load off our staff,” Chief Beaver said. “This will help immensely.”
This year’s effort started without a backlog of toys, which can add pressure to the annual event, but the crew came through again.
“Dianna put a note on the message board and the next thing we knew, we had two or three barrels of new toys on hand. That makes a big difference.”
Chief Beaver said names are on the tree and can be picked up at any time. The tree was taken to the Evangelical Church bazaar on Saturday and will be at the community bazaar December 4.
“Application forms are available only at the fire department this year,” Chief Beaver said. “Those forms need to be turned in no later than Dec. 1 because we begin delivery Dec. 15.”
Chief Beaver said the deadline to return new wrapped toys is Dec. 10.
In recent years, the Community Sharing Tree has averaged helping more than 500 youngsters from 200 families in the community.
If those who take name tags from the tree don’t want to wrap the gifts, they can bring the gifts and the tag to the fire hall where volunteers will take care of wrapping.
“If there are tags left on the tree, our volunteers go out and buy gifts and wrap them in time for delivery,” Chief Beaver said.
Cash donations to help defray expenses are also welcome.