The need is great; Ornaments remain on Giving Tree

Approximately 75 ornaments remain on the 24th annual Giving Tree on display in the Mirror-Reporter office, 12 N. 4th St.

This year the tree featured approximately 200 ornaments representing the wishes of local children and families.  In the 23 years that the Mirror-Reporter has housed the tree, needs have never been left unmet.  In fact, those choosing 

ornaments often remark that they had more fun shopping for someone they didn’t know than someone they did. 

Sign-up forms for the Giving Tree were distributed at Parent-Teacher conferences held in the Clear Lake School District.  They were also sent home with Ventura Elementary School students, as well as those attending Head Start in Clear Lake and Lake Town Charlie Brown.  The Clear Lake School District is in charge of distributing, as well as processing the forms filled out by parents specifying needs they have for their children.  The school district then provides the Mirror-Reporter with ornaments representing the needs of each child.  Other ornaments will list the size of a family requesting a food gift card.  Gifts of food are to be made with a gift card.  The card may be presented with a small treat, but the food gift must be in gift card form, rather than boxes of non-perishable items. 

Gifts must be returned to the Mirror-Reporter office by Dec. 13.

Those with questions about purchasing gifts or food for families, or wishing to make a donation which will be dedicated to the Giving Tree, should contact Marianne Morf or Deb Betz at the Clear Lake Mirror-Reporter, 357-2131.