Ornaments ready on 26th annual Giving Tree

The Giving Tree at the Clear Lake Mirror-Reporter is off to a strong start, but more than 100 ornaments remain available for giving persons to choose and purchase anonymous gifts for local families.

The 26th annual Giving Tree is now on display in the Mirror-Reporter office, 12 N. 4th St.

Sign-up forms for the Giving Tree have already been distributed in the Clear Lake School District.  They were also sent home with those attending Head Start and Lake Town Charlie Brown.

In 2014, the tree featured approximately 202 ornaments representing the wishes of local children.  And just like it always has, the community rose to the challenge of seeing that each of those ornaments was chosen.

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.

This year gifts must be brought to the Mirror-Reporter office by Wednesday, Dec. 16.

In the 25 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.  They put time into thinking about their gifts, had fun wrapping them and like to think about how excited a child might be to open their presents on Christmas Day.

Questions regarding sign-up for the Giving Tree should be directed to Sally Duesenberg at Clear Lake Schools, 641-357-5288.  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 at the Clear Lake Mirror-Reporter, 357-2131.