Tree of Hearts helps bring holidays to those in need
<p>Tree of Hearts can be found at a handful of Sanders County businesses.</p>
SANDERS COUNTY – For many, the holiday season is one filled with presents and cheer. But for some, Christmas time is unnerving – it becomes a time when some families realize how little they have.
In order to bring Christmas to everyone in Sanders County, the Sheriff’s Office is working with local businesses to bring back the Tree of Hearts. The event always starts the day after Thanksgiving and helps bring Christmas to the underprivileged.
According to Sanders County Sheriff’s Office Administrator, Theresa Milner, the Sheriff’s Office Christmas Relief Fund puts on the event.
“We put out the Tree of Hearts so people can pick a heart and can buy a gift appropriate to match it,” explained Milner.
At any handful of businesses, people can find a small green wooden Christmas tree bedecked with numerous hearts. On each heart is the age and sex of a child who may not receive Christmas presents otherwise. Patrons are encouraged to pick up a heart and buy an age and sex appropriate toy for the child.
Food baskets are also provided for families and include turkey, green beans or yams, rolls, butter and celery. For a single person who needs some holiday cheer, the basket would be downsized to a chicken.
Any donations collected are used to buy food and toys for those in need.
According to Milner, the SCSO puts out forms throughout Sanders County and people can either turn the form in with the name of a family in need or they can put themselves on the form.
“Usually a few days before Christmas we deliver to all the folks,” said Milner.
Last year the program helped 226 families and 404 children throughout the county.
The numbers for this year are unknown and Milner said she never predicts how many hearts will be needed.
“I give enough hearts to all the stores that want to have trees,” said Milner.
Often times people chose to provide Christmas to the younger kids and because of that, teenagers are the hardest ones to get presents for.
Milner explained the donations that come in help alleviate that problem, providing presents to all the people who signed up.