Giving Tree Makes Christmas a Little Brighter

SEELEY LAKE - The annual "Giving Tree," sponsored by the Mountain Lakes Presbyterian Church women, brought Christmas joy to many families in the Valley. Nearly 90 gifts were given to 18 families in the area.

While no one is certain when the Giving Tree started in Seeley Lake, Kelli and Bruce Wold took it over in 1995. They started a giving tree when they had a grocery store in Chinook and wanted to keep it going when they moved to Seeley Lake.

Kim Bezanson, Kathleen Thompson and the Wolds would wrap presents for hours in the Wolds' living room. The Lions Club would deliver the gifts with their turkey baskets.

"We have a special place in our hearts for all the children," wrote Kelli in an email. "It truly is a labor of love. The ladies of the church took it over for us and continue doing a wonderful job for our community kids."

Parents or guardians indicated a clothing item and one toy that were needed and/or wanted by their children. For each child there was a card on the Giving Tree at Cory's Valley Market listing age, gender and a gift to purchase. Community members selected a card and signed it out at the check stand.

A dozen ladies from Mountain Lake Presbyterian Church gathered to wrap the gifts Dec. 19. Cory's donated all the wrapping paper, tape and tags. Murdock's in Missoula also donated gifts this year.

Parents picked up their children's gifts the week before Christmas. Coordinator Marcy Zietz asked them what the Giving Tree meant to them. Many said the program is such a blessing and others said it was wonderful and they love it.

Other thoughts shared included:

"My kid's Christmas is going to be awesome."

"It's a great thing that all the kids get presents."

"The outreach from the community is amazing."

"Bless you! This has been a hard year."

"This year we needed it more than ever."

Zietz explained that some of the families who signed up for the Giving Tree this year have older children. The day-to-day expenses of food and other necessities have gone up so they don't have much extra for gifts.

Zietz said, "It's a group effort that brings Christmas to so many homes that wouldn't otherwise have gifts."