Giving Tree distributes over 700 gifts to children in need

This year’s Giving Tree hosted in the In Their Own Words Veterans Museum held its gift distribution on Monday, Dec. 21.

The Giving Tree, which is put on each year by Steve and Lisa Sheets to help give children of local families in need a good Christmas, saw between 700 and 1,000 gifts this year.

Steve Sheets said this year the generosity of the community gave to 220 children from 78 families. With many people giving each child an average of three gifts each.

In addition to the gifts this year the 1800 Club donated 150 bags of candy to the Giving Tree to be sent home with families as they could not hold their annual Kids Christmas party this year, Sheets said. He said two bags would be sent home with each family.

1/2: Giving Tree gifts were bagged up and ready to be sent home with their intended family on Monday, Dec. 21. (RosaLin Alcoser/Focus)

2/2: The 1800 Club donated 150 bags of candy to be sent home with families receiving gifts from the Giving Tree. The donation was made in lieu of the Kids Christmas party that the club was unable to put on this year. (RosaLin Alcoser/Focus)