The Giving Tree

The Giving Tree Project is a community charity developed in 1996 by the Excelsior Area Chamber of Commerce.South Lake Community and its surrounding areas. The first year of the Giving Tree Project, the Excelsior Fire Department participated in the project in a volunteer role only. In 1997 the Excelsior Fire Department partnered with the Excelsior Area Chamber of Commerce and became the project organizer and guardian. In early December, the trees donated by Renewable Energy SD are placed outside Excelsior businesses for, as it’s been dubbed, “Foster Care”. The merchants provide electricity for the lights and give the trees T.L.C when needed. Everything is donated, from the Christmas lights and tree stands, to the wood used for the Stars. Stars are cut out of wood and given to local organizations for decorating. The purpose of the project was to give decorated trees to families in the

Kay Carlson from BayTree writes a poem to place on the tree so a passer-by can learn about and participate in the project. The trees receive the rest of their decorations from various resources. A promotional campaign for public decorating is started weeks before the trees arrive. The campaign asks citizens to donate ornaments and tree trimming to the Giving Tree Project. Decorations can be homemade, brand new, or have had previous tree experience. Flyers are sent to the schools and scout troops asking them to adopt a tree to decorate. It all comes together on Giving Tree pick up day a week before Christmas when the decorated trees are given to the clients of Resource West.

2010 Giving Tee Project highlights:

• A family of three was very excited to get their first live tree.
• One set of parents was ecstatic to get a tree. They had told their children that they would not have a tree this year. They could not wait to get home and get the tree set up for the kids too surprise them when they came home from school.
• Another family told us how their kids were about to burst from anticipation.
• Many families, especially the parents could not express their gratitude enough.
• One woman was so thankful she could not even speak. She just smiled as tears streamed down her face.

The volunteers from ResourceWest and I fortunate enough to have direct contact with the families and we get to see the tears of joy in their eyes and received their hugs of appreciation. Although all of you, our Giving Tree contributors could not be there to witness this holiday magic be assured your Christmas spirit was present.

Kellie Murphy-Ringate

Excelsior Fire District