SARS announces 2019 Giving Tree campaign

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 2019 “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 Sandpoint Head Start, Bonners Ferry Head Start, Mountain State Head Start and Transitions in Progress, the Giving Tree program can make many children’s Christmas wishes come true. However, 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 and/or boot needs, toys, arts, books and special wishes requests. Anyone wishing to purchase wrapping paper and ribbon to donate as well is encouraged to do so.

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 1 month to 18 years of age. 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 and return to purchased items to the SAR office located at 325 S Marion, Sandpoint by 5 p.m. on or before Friday, Dec. 2. 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 happen. Giving Trees with specific gift card requests are located in a variety of businesses throughout the communities in Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry.

2019 ‘Giving Tree’ locations include:

- Sandpoint: Bonner General Hospital (gift shop and registration), The Klondyke, Larson’s, Starbucks (Ponderay and Sandpoint), Tomlinson Sothebys Sandpoint, Trinity at City Beach, Winter Ridge Health Foods, Potlatch #1 Federal Credit Union, and X-Hale Pilates.

Bonners Ferry: Larson’s.

For additional information on the Giving Tree program, lease visit the Giving Tree on the association’s Facebook page or call the SAR office at 208-265-2227.

“Again to the community we say thank you for your support and goodwill,” said Stephanie Rief in a press release announcing this year’s program. “This effort is only possible through the support of caring individuals, groups, businesses and families in our community.”