Carla and Bill Lamont of Clinton took four tags off the Giving Tree at Good Cheer last week; tags for two boys and two girls ranging in age from 19 months to 16 years.
Each tag has the name and age of a child and that child’s wish for a Christmas present. The Lamonts, like the others who participate in the Giving Tree, will buy the Christmas gift listed on the tags for each child, then take them to Good Cheer for distribution.
“We have been blessed in our lives, so we want to help others out,”said Carla Lamont this week.
The Lamonts, who moved to South Whidbey a year ago, have two children and seven grandchildren of their own, enjoy giving children gifts. Bill Lamont said whether it’s his own or someone else’s children, he and his wife enjoy making the holidays a special event.
“I believe we should all give,” Lamont said, “give until it hurts because it seems like there are a lot of people who need help right now. Too often people look the other way, rather than help.”
There are plenty of tags still on the Good Cheer tree and there are several other tagged trees placed around the community. Good Cheer staffers collect the tags and put them on the Giving Trees, which can be found in South Whidbey banks as well as in a few other businesses.
The tree tags, which are waiting to be removed by individuals or families, provide an opportunity to donate one or more gifts for a specific-age person in a family. Some families will adopt another family. How the tags get to the trees and what happens to the gifts left underneath is a heart-warming story.
Santa’s workshop
The second floor of Good Cheer has once again been turned into Santa’s workshop. Irene Walker is putting in her fifth year and Jean Favini her third year as Santa’s helpers. They do all the organizing and the nitty gritty work involved in seeing that the Christmas spirit reaches the families and children who need it on South Whidbey. These two caring women are making it possible for about 230 South Whidbey families to receive a wished-for Christmas present this year.
Families who registered for a Thanksgiving basket were asked to fill out a form for Christmas indicating whether they needed presents for children. “We already have 160 families plus children registered and we know from experience to expect many more,” Walker said.
She has already filled out and distributed tags for all those people to the “Giving Trees.” More tags will be put on the trees as need be.
Timing is important
“We have to work fast now.” said Jean Favini, “We will start picking up gifts left at the Giving Trees on Friday, Dec. 7, but we always need more gifts. ”
The Santa’s helpers want people to know that gifts can also be brought to Good Cheer, and cash donations are also needed in order to purchase gifts to fill in the empty spots.
“It’s a big help to have people donate cash. Last year we had to spend about $600 of Good Cheer funds in shopping for presents,” Favani said.
She said requested presents for children often include Barbie dolls and clothes, Legos, books and miniature cars.
“We definitely realize that buying gifts for teenagers can be difficult,” said Favini. “We suggest gift certificates for teenagers. Certificates are available in most stores, and then the kids can pick out a CD they want, or an article of clothing, sports item, makeup. Or often craft items are requested.”
No one over 18 or not in high school is allowed to receive a gift through the Giving Tree program.
Favini laughed as she described driving the Good Cheer truck to Oak Harbor and doing last-minute shopping at discount stores such as Wal-Mart and K-Mart.
This year, the helpers will make their shopping trip on Dec. 12 or Dec. 14, just before they distribute “Santa’s bags” of toys to families. Walker said Santa’s bags are large black plastic bags that contain smaller, white plastic bags with presents for each member of the family.
On Dec. 11, seven or eight “elves” arrive at Santa’s Workshop to begin wrapping.
“They will wrap continuously for two days, or until finished, then make a list of the kids who don’t have presents,” Walker said. “It’s at that point that Jean and I take the list and head-out with the truck for shopping.”
Also bolstering the effort this year is a group of Langley Middle School students who are collecting new toys and other gifts to help meet the needs of the Good Cheer Christmas effort.
Making it easier
As Walker and Favini bustled about their work area Wednesday arranging presents by age groups, they spoke of wishes of their own and information that might be helpful to South Whidbey residents.
They ask present donors to attach the tags they pulled off the Giving Trees to donated presents. Also, any used gifts or items donated will be given to the store for sale.
Do not wrap the new donated gift. However, donors should include Christmas wrapping paper with the gifts.
Gifts should be returned to the Giving Tree by Dec. 7 or, at the latest Dec. 10. If that’s not possible, donors may drop off gifts, with tags, at Good Cheer, by the Dec. 14 or Dec. 15.
Money donated for purchasing gifts should be left at Good Cheer before Dec. 12 so Santa’s helpers can do their shopping.
Anyone who knows of a family needing assistance at Christmas is asked to encourage them to register for the gift give-away at Good Cheer as soon as possible.
Gifts that arrive too late for distribution will be saved for next year.
