Giving meets increase in need

The Spirit of Christmas Giving Tree program, organized by the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire & Ambulance Association, managed rising needs with the help of incredible support from the Sisters Country community.

Giving Tree tags dotted the Christmas trees at both Ray's Food Place and Bi-Mart. Each tag had the wish list of a child in need, as well as the child's age and size. Interested community members simply picked a tag, shopped for the items on the given wish list, and turned the gifts in at the Sisters Fire Hall.

The Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District has been organizing the Giving Tree Program since the early 1990s. In order to qualify for the program, recipients must live within the Sisters School District and have an annual household income at or below the federal poverty level of $22,350 (for a family of four).

This year the number of families requesting assistance reached an all-time high, with 286 children in need of gifts. The number of applicants has been rising steadily over the past three years.

Ben Bruegeman, of the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District, was impressed with the generosity of the Sisters Country community.

"Even with the economy in its current state, we saw a great outpouring of support," Bruegeman said.

Bill Hayes, volunteer firefighter and program director of the Spirit of Christmas Giving Tree, spent hours at the fire station double-checking the list to make sure that each child received a present. His team of elf-like volunteers helped him check-in gifts.

Popular requests this year included clothing, shoes, blankets, video games and toys.

"We love to give gifts to the Giving Tree program," said one local supporter. "It feels good to have such a direct impact on the life of a child, and on an entire family."

Each donated gift was matched to a child and distributed just in time for Christmas.

Bruegeman added: "The Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire & Ambulance Association would like to thank all of the Sisters Country community members who donated their time and money to help out our Spirit of Christmas program. Without this tremendous support, the Giving Tree would not be as successful as it has become."