16 October 2013

Christmas morning will be a little bit brighter with the help of generous members of the community. Local individuals and groups can volunteer to host a “Giving Tree” to provide Christmas gifts to kids in their community.

The Giving Tree is a long-time tradition in The Salvation Army, dating back to the early 20th century. Individuals or groups sign-up to host a tree, then purchase new gifts for kids during the season. As Christmas approaches, The Salvation Army matches the gifts with local kids in need. 

Families who receive gifts are selected by The Salvation Army, using State and Federal guidelines to assess need.  For most of these families, the kids will receive very few – or no – other gifts. Gifts are collected for kids ages infant to 11, and gift cards for kids ages 12 – 14. The recommended value of gifts is $25 or more.

“Sharing the joy of Christmas with a child or family is a wonderful experience,” said Major Douglas Tollerud, Divisional Commander of The Salvation Army in Washington, Northern Idaho, and Western Montana. “We are so fortunate to have many generous donors who know the true meaning of Christmas and share it with their neighbors.”

The Salvation Army is grateful to the many partners who regularly host Giving Trees in the area. From individuals to families, from clubs to churches, and from dentist offices to law firms – the generosity is overwhelming during the season. However, each year, new Giving Tree hosts are needed and welcomed. 

“A Giving Tree is not always a tree, sometimes it is a large box,” said Major Tollerud. “It doesn’t matter how they collect the toys, the important thing is that the community is coming together and helping to brighten the season for kids who might not receive other gifts.” 

Gifts from the Giving Trees will be distributed to local families in need during the week of December 16. Gifts are given to the parents, so they can wrap and give the gifts to kids according to their family traditions. 

Individuals and groups interested in hosting a Giving Tree can register by contacting their local Salvation Army or by emailing NWGivingTree@usw.SalvationArmy.org. The Salvation Army can provide posters and gift tags for the campaign, and assist with pickup after the toys are collected. (Please note: The Salvation Army doesn’t provide trees for the campaign.)