Spirit of Giving program underway

The Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire & Ambulance Association and the Sisters Kiwanis Club are sponsoring the annual "Spirit of Christmas Giving Tree" to provide Christmas gifts to families in need in Sisters Country this holiday season. They expect to serve close to 250 families this year.

The Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire & Ambulance Association is collecting new unwrapped gifts at the main fire station at 301 S. Elm St. in Sisters. Gifts are available to children, age newborn to seniors in high school, of low-income families who live within the Sisters or Black Butte school districts. There are "Spirit of Christmas Giving Trees" at Sisters Ray's Food Place, Sisters Bi-Mart and at Black Butte Ranch Post Office and police department. You can pick a gift tag for a child from the tree and purchase specific gifts or bring new generic gifts to the fire station.

A new virtual "Spirit of Christmas Giving Tree" will go live this season. Patrons will be able to pick a tag and help make Christmas a little more special for a Sisters family in need right from the comfort of their home or anywhere they have Internet access. Follow Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD on social media (Facebook and Twitter) for the go-live date, then access the virtual tree at http://www.sistersfire.com.

Tax-deductible cash donations are also accepted and will go toward gift buying. Cash donations can be made at the main fire station, by mail at P.O. Box 1509, Sisters, Oregon, 97759 or online at http://www.sistersfire.com. The deadline for gift donations is Wednesday, December 14. For more information call the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District at 541-549-0771.

The Sisters Kiwanis Club is collecting non-perishable food items and cash donations for distribution with the Christmas gifts. To donate to the Sisters Kiwanis Club, drop by the Kiwanis Food Bank at 225 W. Main Ave. Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call Naomi Rowe at 541-549-5694 for more information.