Season of giving gets underway in Sisters

Sisters is a generous community all year round, but that spirit is especially in evidence during the holidays. Several organizations are ramping up their annual holiday giving programs.

Families who wish to participate in the annual Kiwanis holiday food program are encouraged to fill out their applications now, so that the various providers have time to put donations together. Applications are available at the Kiwanis Food Bank on Main Avenue and Oak Street, at Sisters Fire Hall, 301 S. Elm St. and at Sisters Family Access Network, located in the Sisters School District administration building.

Applications should be filled out and returned by Friday, November 17.

Kiwanis is accepting donations of food and/or cash to support the holiday meal program. Drop by the food bank on Wednesdays from noon to 2 p.m. or Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cash helps Kiwanis make targeted purchases for the program. Checks can be mailed to P.O. Box 1296, Sisters, OR 97759, or placed in the drop box at the food bank at any time.

The Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire & Ambulance Association is 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.

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. Applications for the program are available to be picked up now at the following locations: Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District, Kiwanis Food Bank and the FAN office in Sisters. Again, applications are due by Friday, November 17 at 5 p.m. in order to receive a gift.

The Association is collecting new unwrapped gifts at the fire station at 301 S. Elm St. in Sisters. There will be "Spirit of Christmas Giving Trees" at Sisters Ray's Food Place, Sisters Bi-Mart, Black Butte Ranch Post Office and Black Butte Ranch Police Department by November 18. Last year the Association launched a new virtual "Spirit of Christmas Giving Tree" and plan to have that option available again this year. On the fire district website at http://www.sistersfire.com you 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 your home or from anywhere you have Internet access.

Volunteers encourage you to pick a gift tag for a child from one of the trees and purchase specific gifts requested by the families rather than just donating a non-specific gift. For those folks that would like to participate in the program but are unable to purchase a specific gift, they will also accept cash donations.

Cash donations are tax-deductible and will go toward gift-buying.

Cash donations can be made at the main fire station, by mail at PO Box 1509, Sisters, OR 97759 or at http://www.sistersfire.com.

The deadline for gift donations is Friday, December 1.

The tags that are not filled by the community will be filled by Fire District volunteer shoppers using donated funds, which mean that no qualifying child gets left without a gift.

For more information contact the Sisters-Camp Sherman fire district at 541-549-0771.

Although Furry Friends Foundation will be moving to a new location soon, donations for the Furry Friends Holiday Pet Food Drive may still be brought to The Nugget office through the holidays. Cash donations are particularly helpful, allowing for targeted purchases of pet food to support families who are part of the holiday food drive program.

Checks may be made payable to Furry Friends Foundation and sent to P.O. Box 1175, Sisters, OR 97759 or dropped off at The Nugget Newspaper office at 442 E. Main Ave. during business hours.