BAYVIEW — There’s nothing quite like sprucing up the spruce for the holidays.

It was a scene that rang in the holiday season at the Bayview Cash Store this past Wednesday afternoon, when representatives from several South Whidbey nonprofits gathered in the historic building’s hub to decorate a fresh, towering Christmas tree raised by the folks at Goosefoot.

“The Giving Tree lights up south Whidbey Island as a holiday fundraiser for local charities,” Goosefoot’s Marian Myszkowski said.

“Goosefoot is really happy to be able to provide this for the community. It’s a chance for groups to have the camaraderie of getting together to make ornaments, while also getting some attention for the nonprofits,” she added.

Now in its eighth year, the Giving Tree is decorated with handcrafted ornaments made by the staff and volunteers of more than 18 nonprofit organizations located on Whidbey. The tree is on display through

Dec. 31 at Bayview Corner where participants can buy any of the ornaments on the tree to support a local charity.

The Giving Tree is sponsored by Goosefoot, a nonprofit that lists its mission as one that “brings neighbors together to build a sense of place and community, to preserve rural traditions, to enhance local commerce and to help create a healthy, sustainable future for South Whidbey.”

Enso House, a hospice that provides people with end-of-life comfort and spiritual care, has been participating in the Giving Tree since it began. Enso House director Ann Cutcher said it’s a reflection of the special place that is Whidbey Island.

“It’s one more example of what an amazing, supportive and nurturing community we have,” Cutcher said.

“I’ve not lived in a place like this before; it’s unique,” she added.

Enso House volunteers look forward to the ornament making parties every year, Cutcher said, because it’s a wonderful way to get involved and have some fun.

Their ornaments are clove spice balls, which were made from the smallest apples gleaned from the Enso House apple trees.

Like all the ornaments sold off the tree, Enso House will receive the proceeds from the sale of its spice balls.

“The funds we receive are just the icing on the cake,” Cutcher said. “It’s the tree itself that brings the community together and helps everybody know what resources are here.”

Bonding around making ornaments is another one of the joys that many participants in the Giving Tree project embrace. Some of the organizations and volunteers used the Paint Escape in Freeland to make their ornaments. Others are steeped in a tradition of home-craft parties such as the South Whidbey Children’s Center.

Melinda Gardiner, a former parent and board member of South Whidbey Children’s Center, was one of the first movers and shakers of the Giving Tree and helped create the popular “button people” ornaments that are hung each year by the center.

“I went to the children’s center with the button people idea, which wasn’t mine, and after we made some, they sold well. They sold well the next year, too, and then we made 300 of them and they sold. They sort of took on a life of their own,” Gardiner said.

Gardiner said the best part was that creating the ornaments — which are inspired by the various buttons, flower petals, feathers, fabric and all the other found materials brought to the pile — was a good way for parents at the children’s center to get together and socialize a bit.

“We’d have a party and make ornaments. It was a way to meet other parents of the center,” she said.

“It’s also a really fun example of what a small creative effort can do and really how successful that can be for an organization,” Gardiner added.

The ornaments that decorate the Giving Tree this year are from a variety of local groups representing all of Whidbey Island that are working on issues ranging from affordable housing to resources for animals and food assistance to environmental concerns.

“For me, it’s just something that gets groups together to shine and have a little fun,” Myszkowski said.

A suggested minimum donation is set by each organization and all proceeds from the purchase of ornaments go back to that nonprofit. Information about each charity is available under the tree for folks to take with them.

The Giving Tree is made possible by the Goosefoot Foundation and its participants include Big Brothers Big Sisters of Island County, Enso House, Equestrian Crossings, FETCH!, Good Cheer Food Bank, HOPE Therapeutic Riding Center, Habitat for Humanity, the Orca Network, Pregnancy Aid of South Whidbey, Ryan’s House for Youth, Saratoga Community Housing, Senior Services of Island County, Sister Island Project, South Whidbey Children’s Center, South Whidbey Family Resource Center, South Whidbey Tilth, Whidbey Animals’ Improvement Foundation, Whidbey Island Nourishes and Whidbey Watershed Stewards.

To buy an ornament, choose one from the Giving Tree and bring it next door to La Salon Bella for purchase. The salon is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.