Giving Anonymously
Trees and gift baskets aid needy
By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer
The art of giving grows on trees in our
high-desert valley.
At the Valley Market, in Bellevue, a huge
tree in the front of the store is covered, from midway down, with
individual wish lists children have filled out and placed on the tree. The
wish lists will remain up until Dec. 20. Wrapped presents should be
returned to the store and placed under the tree.
The wish list items run a very wide gamut
from a skateboard, Pokeman cards, Barbie dolls and lip glosses to a
computer laptop for a 7-year-old, and scooters for kids of all ages.
Some items are highly practical: boots,
clothes, jeans, even diapers for an 8-month-old are requested. (Chances
are a parent filled out the wish list form for that child.)
Another Giving Tree is at Les Schwab in
Hailey. Its annual tree is festooned with paper ornaments in the shapes of
sleds and stockings, and has pretty much the same sort of items on its
wish list.
One 8-year-old asked for a piano. Hey, why
not?
Another was clearly from an adult:
"Not a toy but an encounter with a person and their talent."
Drums, computer toys, army stuff, sleds and
sports books were among the other wish list items.
The Bellevue KidShop is looking for
donations to help 10 local families on Christmas with baskets of food. The
KidShop asks that donors call it at 788-0931 to see what is still needed.
In Ketchum, one may either donate money to
Chapter One’s annual giving tree or pick out a requested item. This is
the fifth year the store will be donating books to between 300 to 400 area
children. It culls its list of kids from Head Start, Idaho Department of
Health and Welfare, Baldy View Apartments, and the Silver Creek
Alternative School.
Chapter One’s owner, Cheryl Welch, said
Starr Weekes is their "Chief Elf."
"She wraps all night long in her
garage."
Chapter One delivers the wrapped books to
the schools at their Christmas Parties and to the Baldy View Apartments in
Ketchum on Christmas Eve.
The Toy Store in Ketchum recently dropped
off five huge boxes of toys as Christmas gifts at the Advocates for
Survivors of Domestic Violence center in Hailey.
There continues to be so many options and
ways to give back to those less fortunate in our valley. Give yourself a
gift by giving to someone else for no personal gain.
