By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Julia Smith often hears stories from families who put the Giving Tree at the top of their to-do list around the holiday season.
Giving Tree organizers gather around the tree in the lobby of Wells Fargo Bank. (Sentinel Photo)
“They say this is a big tradition for them, for their family,” she said. “Part of it is teaching the children, that it’s the giving part that’s important.”
Smith is one of the volunteers for the United Methodist Women, which runs the Giving Tree program. The tree is located in the lobby of Wells Fargo Bank, covered with paper ornaments. Each ornament is marked, for example, “Boy, 17,” or “Elder, Woman,” or “Girl, 15.” Members of the public are invited to select an ornament and purchase a gift suitable for someone of that description. There is a box nearby for collecting the unwrapped presents.
Smith spoke to the Sentinel today, Giving Tuesday, a day that encourages people to do good. It was started in 2012 at the New York City 92nd Street Y, and is now an “independent nonprofit and global movement,” the Giving Tuesday website says.
This is also a day when everyone’s email box is filled with appeals from nonprofits and other charities to make annual or additional donations.
The Giving Tree has been a tradition in Smith’s family since 1994. Her daughter Lauren was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi group that ran the program. After the group disbanded, the women’s organization at the United Methodist Church of Sitka took it on, led by Lauren Allen in most years and Julia this year.
Its goal is to collect 184 presents for elders in the Pioneers Home and SEARHC long-term care, and other individuals identified through Youth Advocates of Sitka, Head Start and the SAFV shelter.
“For a lot of children in Sitka, this is kind of it for them,” Smith said. “They might not get much besides what they get from us.”
The Giving Tree is replenished with new ornaments as they are selected, and any tags left at the end are covered by the volunteers. The gifts are delivered to the nonprofit organizations for wrapping and distribution.
The program started with children and families in mind. Smith was the administrator and a social worker at the Sitka Pioneers Home, where she noticed that residents were sometimes forgotten at Christmas time.
“Sometimes no one sent them anything, and a lot of people don’t have family in town,” Smith said. “So we added the Pioneers Home, and when long-term care came along we added them too. They are so happy about the gifts - both groups are happy we do that for them.”
The Giving Tree is a big program, but other opportunities abound this time of year to brighten the season for the less fortunate.
The Sitka Fire Department has a similar “giving tree” at the fire hall with ornaments seeking presents for children in foster care, in coordination with the Office of Children’s Services. Assistant Fire Chief David Johnson said the tags have ages ranging from infant to teens, the gender and some information to help the gift buyer find the right present for that kid.
A major Sitka charity is the Salvation Army which collects most of its cash donations around the holiday season through its mail appeal program and bell ringing downtown and in front of grocery stores. Sitka Salvation Army Maj. John Tumey said the organization collects some 75 percent of its annual fundraising around the holiday season.
Gifts for families and individuals are also provided through the Toys for Tots program, an organization run by retired Marines, with donation boxes for toys and other gifts placed in businesses around town.
“Food, toys, clothing – new clothing” are all welcome, said Tumey.
He estimated that the Salvation Army serves between 90 and 115 families during the Christmas season - which translates into more than 200 recipients.
“This time of year people like to give and help not just people they don’t know but people they know,” Tumey said. “We’ve lived in other communities, and we see a big response here – not just to charities but to all nonprofits. People tend to give more because they know people are in need. And we like to help wherever we can, and we make sure they have food and a toy for their child and we couldn’t do this alone.”
The Salvation Army provides food baskets for Thanksgiving and Christmas which include not just the supplies for a holiday dinner but extra food as well.
The Marine Corps League’s announcement asking for donations to “Accomplish the Mission!” lists Toys for Tots donations boxes at Sea Mart, Market Center, The Cellar, Sitka True Value, Orion Sporting Goods, Harry Race, SEARHC and AC Lakeside. Those with questions may call Sam Pointer, MCL commandant, at 623-7775 or Bernie Gurule, 966-3202.
