Giving Tree tags still available

People in the Mountain Home area still have time to help needy families make ends meet through the holiday season by participating in this year's Giving Tree program.

As of Dec. 9, Giving Tree volunteers still had 70 tags listing the names of children in the local area needing "something from Santa" who would not receive anything otherwise, Giving Tree officials said.

Giving Tree tags are still available at Wal-Mart, Paul's Market, Bealls and Lucky Perk. To participate in the effort, people simply take one of these tags and buy gifts for the individual listed on them.

By accepting a tag, they essentially "adopt" someone for the holidays, Giving Tree officials said. In some cases, the generosity of local people allows them to, in essence, "play Santa" to an entire family, they added.

People may drop off their unwrapped donations at the chamber office, Bealls, the Edward Jones office on American Legion Boulevard, Grinde's Diner, Home Federal Bank, Lucky Perk, Paul's Market and Wal-Mart.

They may also drop off their gifts at the Giving Tree Workshop, located on Airbase Road next to Peak Physical Therapy. The building will serve as the Giving Tree workshop where volunteers collect, wrap and distribute gifts.

Giving Tree representatives need all gifts by Monday, Dec. 14.

In addition, the all-volunteer group needs volunteers to organize and wrap the donated items at the workshop, which will open from 2 to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday starting in early December. Volunteers can sign up by calling the chamber of commerce at 587-4334 or by stopping at the workshop.