Community pulls together in Christmas spirit

Volunteers are once again celebrating the holiday season with several activities including the holiday lights display, Spirit of Christmas gift drive and community Christmas dinner.

The Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire & Ambulance Association (SCSFAAA) is sponsoring the annual “Spirit of Christmas Giving Tree” to provide Christmas gifts to families in need in Sisters Country this holiday season.

“We expect to serve close to 250 families,” said Julie Spor, district public affairs specialist.

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 Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District, Kiwanis Club and the FAN office in Sisters. Applications are due by Friday, December 13 at 5 p.m. Please get applications in early so requests can be filled.

The Association is collecting new, unwrapped gifts at Sisters Fire Hall, 301 S. Elm St. Tags with requested items are hung on trees at Ray’s Food Place, Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Station, Black Butte Ranch Post Office and Black Butte Ranch Police Department.

Volunteers encourage community members to pick a tag for a child from one of the trees and purchase specific gifts requested by the families. For those folks that would like to participate in the program, but are unable to purchase a specific gift, cash donations are accepted (which are tax-deductible and go toward gift purchases). Make cash donations at the fire station (301 S. Elm St.), by mail: P.O. Box 1509, Sisters, or online at sistersfire.com.

The deadline for gift donations is Wednesday, December 18 at noon. Tags that are not filled by the community will be filled by Fire District volunteer shoppers using donated funds — no qualifying child gets left without a gift.

“If you haven’t seen the Christmas lights display at the main fire station… be sure to drive by and stop and listen,” Spor noted. “The light display is accompanied by music each evening from parade day until after Christmas.”

On Christmas Day, the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District and SCSFAAA invite the public to the annual Sisters Community Christmas Dinner to be held Christmas day at 1 p.m. in the Sisters Fire Station Community Hall. Everyone is welcome and no reservation is required.

For information call 541-549-0771.