Giving Tree project back for 2021

SANDPOINT — The 2021 Giving Tree project has been launched by the Selkirk Association of Realtors and needs local support to be successful.

The Giving Tree is a local tradition of providing a very special holiday season for children and families in the 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 program, SAR members can make children’s Christmas wishes come true.

In order to make the effort successful, SAR needs help from everyone in the community. This year’s Giving Tree focuses on children who come from income-verified sources on a “needs” basis.

Given the enormity of this effort, SAR needs the help of organizations, businesses, families and individuals willing to buy gifts for these children. As in past years, specific gift tags for each child will include clothing needs and sizes, shoe and/or boot needs, toys, arts, books and special wishes requests will be provided.

The purchasing of wrapping papers and ribbon for donation is encouraged.

“We know that this is a very generous community and that many will help make this holiday season special for those less fortunate,” SAR officials said in a press release.

Gift tags have been prepared with specific gift requests for children and their siblings as young as one 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 purchased items to the SAR office located at 325 S. Marion, Sandpoint by 5 p.m. on or before Monday, Dec. 6. 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 area communities that the group can make the event happen, SAR officials said. Giving Trees with specific gift card requests are located in a variety of businesses throughout communities in Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry.

In Sandpoint, request tags can be found at The Klondyke, Larson’s, Starbucks (Ponderay and Sandpoint), Tomlinson Sothebys Sandpoint, Trinity at City Beach, P1FCU, Winter Ridge Health Foods and X-Hale Pilates.

In Bonners Ferry, request tags can be found at Larson’s.

For more information, go online to the Giving Tree on the association’s Facebook page or call the SAR office at 208-265-2227.