Rotary’s Tree of Joy returning to Old Mill
Local Rotary Clubs in Bend will kick off their annual Tree of Joy project over the Thanksgiving weekend on Friday, November 23. The Tree of Joy can be found at Santa Land in the Old Mill District, next to Desperado.
The Tree of Joy offers a chance to buy presents for children and seniors in the Bend and LaPine areas who are unable to experience a joyful holiday without local contributor’s generosity. The program has become a tradition for many Central Oregonians as they find ways to give directly to others during the holidays.
The effort begins with the Salvation Army, which processes Christmas assistance applications and furnishes names of children 16 years and younger and senior citizens to the Rotary Clubs. From this information tags are prepared and placed on the Tree of Joy. Generally, the tags indicate a need for some article of clothing or toy preferences and disclose the first name, age and clothing size of the recipient.
How do you participate in this program? Go to Santa Land in the Old Mill District and look for the Christmas tree with tags hanging from it. Pick one (or more). Then go shopping and buy a present or presents for the children or seniors, who, without your help, wouldn’t have a Christmas.
The items should be returned to the Tree of Joy, unwrapped or in gift bags, with the tag attached. Gifts should be returned before December 16, 2012.
Hours are Monday-Thursday, 3-7:30pm and Friday through Sunday, 11am-6pm.
Volunteers throughout the holiday season will deliver more than 3,000 gifts to local people in Information: Pamela Hulse Andrews 541-419-7596 or Jeff Curl 541-408-4926.
