Several hundred name tags are fastened to the Christmas for Kids sharing tree at the Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District building lobby.
They’re waiting to be picked up by local families who want to help others this holiday season.
Fire Chief Mike Beaver encourages families to stop by the department and take the names of one or two families.
Purchase appropriate gifts for the family using the information summary with the certificate and bring the gifts back to the fire department (wrapped or unwrapped.)
“This will be the second year we’ve asked families receiving the gifts to come by the fire hall,” Chief Beaver said. “It’s really helped us in terms of the delivery process.”
Chief Beaver added this programs “depends on the generosity of caring people of Sweet Home to make the holidays a little brighter for our less fortunate neighbors.”
Local firefighters have helped with Christmas toy programs here for more than 50 years. Decades ago the volunteers fixed metal toys for Christmas deliveries. The tradition lives on though the Sharing Tree.
“Cash donations are also helpful because our volunteers will take the tags that haven’t been selected from the tree and shop for those families,” Chief Beaver said. “They will then wrap and deliver those presents.”
The Sharing Tree will remain up at the fire hall until December 7 when it will be on display at the annual ELMS bazaar at the high school activity gym.
Heide Mather is heading up this year’s Sharing Tree program.