SAR launches 2010 Giving Tree project

SANDPOINT — During this holiday season, the agents, brokers, members, affiliates and staff of the Selkirk Association of Realtors are taking the words of Winston Churchill to heart: “We make a living by what we do, but we make a life by what we give.”

SAR’s Community Service Committee has launched the 2010 Giving Tree project, a local tradition of providing a very special holiday season for children and families in our community who may not otherwise receive holiday gifts. By partnering with children’s advocacy organizations including Bonner County Head Start, Bonners Ferry Head Start and Transitions in Progress, the Giving Tree program can make many children’s Christmas wishes come true. But, to make this effort successful we need the help of everyone in the community. 

This year’s Giving Tree focuses on children who come to us from income-verified sources on a “needs” basis. Given the enormity of this effort, we need the help of organizations, businesses, families and individuals who might be willing to buy gifts for the children. We will, as in past years, provide specific gift tags for each child which include: clothing needs, shoe/boot needs, toy gift requests and special wishes.

We know that this is a very generous community and that many will help make this Holiday Season special for those less fortunate. Gift tags have been prepared with specific gift requests for children and their siblings as young as two months.

Gift tags are available for individual selection from any of the Giving Tree locations mentioned below. Individuals and groups may pick gift tags of their choice, prepare the gifts with a note attached specifically describing the gift (if wrapped) and return them to one of the locations listed on the tag by noon on Monday, Dec. 13. The gifts will then be delivered to the referring agency offices for distribution to the families.

It is only through the generosity of businesses, families and individuals in our communities that we can make this a very special holiday for some very special children. Giving Trees with specific gift card requests are located in a variety of businesses throughout our communities in Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry.

2010 Giving Tree locations include:

Sandpoint: Larson’s for Men and Women, Bonner Mall, Blimpie’s at Wal Mart, Bonner General Hospital, Sandpoint Safeway, Sandpoint West Athletic Club, Sandpoint Super Drug, Payless Shoes and the Gardenia Center,

Bonners Ferry: Larson’s for Men and Women and Bonners Ferry Safeway

For more information, visit the Giving Tree on Facebook, or call the SAR office at (208) 265-2227.