Chamber works to provide hope for the holidays

It is proving to be one of the busiest times of the year for the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce Retail Merchants Committee with projects focusing on making the season bright, and offering hope and the holiday spirit to area needy families.

You can make the holidays a little brighter this year by participating in the Giving Tree project. The Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce Merchants Committee's program is a major community effort to provide gifts to disadvantaged families during the Christmas season.

Trees at participating Chamber merchants feature the Christmas wish list gift tags. Patrons are asked to select a tag (or more than one) from the tree, purchase the gift requested, wrap it and turn it in at the Chamber office by Dec. 15. Wrapped gifts should have the tag attached to the outside and a listing of what is inside.

The Chamber also is seeking volunteers to help wrap those presents that have not been wrapped. Call 587-4334 to schedule a time you can help wrap gifts on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, Dec. 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 or 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Donations of wrapping materials also will be accepted at the Chamber office.

This year organizers have been able to add yet another aspect to the Giving Tree. People are invited to bring old computers and/or parts to The Networks, 356 N. 2nd East St., to be rebuilt and distributed through the Giving Tree program.

The annual project, sponsored by the Chamber Merchant's Committee, is designed to provide clothing and toys for children of needy families at Christmas. Some merchants may offer discounts for gifts purchased for the program. Check with the participating merchant.

Area organizations or individuals also can "adopt" an entire family, providing them with the requested gifts, or other gifts. Contact the Chamber of Commerce at 587-4334 or Coleen at the Mountain Home News, 587-3331, to make arrangements.

In addition, anyone who would like to donate their "Paul's Points," can do so by letting any cashier know, or at the courtesy counter, and the points will be credited to the Chamber's account. In addition, consumers who purchase an item for the giving tree in the Paul's clothes gallery will receive 15 percent off the purchase price.

As sponsors of the Giving Tree program, the Merchants Committee is encouraging the public to help fill the "Wish List" for needy children, senior citizens and the handicapped. The committee is looking for volunteers to wrap gifts. Wrappers are needed Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Call the Chamber, 587-4334, to schedule time.

The Giving Tree program has changed considerably over the years, and today melds several former holiday help projects into one program.

Originally, the Giving Tree was launched by the local Board of Realtors, and then moved under the jurisdiction of the Chamber. It was designed to provide clothing and small gift items to the elderly and handicapped shut-ins in the area.

At the same time, toys were being provided by the Santa's Workshop, begun by Don and Marg Harlan, a Hammett couple who decided the community needed some kind of program to provide needy children with toys. Residents donated new or used toys to the project.

The program transitioned to the Fraads, who had helped the Harlans originally, and then Clare Hamman and her 'elves' took over the project, with the assistance in the last few years from the local Marine Corps League.

Now the Santa's Workshop toy-giving project has melded into the Giving Tree program.

Today, the program focuses on clothing and newly purchased toys for needy children. Due to the large need for help by area families and the limited capabilities of the Giving Tree sponsors, the Merchant's Committee has been forced to limit recipients to children 18 years and younger, handicapped adults and senior citizens.

Chamber also has traditionally been the sponsor for the Holiday Parade, and this year was no exception. Chairman Steve Gustafson expressed appreciation for the efforts of Sue Gross and Debbie Shoemaker for their tremendous efforts in making the event such a success. The two women not only helped with the 4,000 lights for the community tree and helped 150 parade participant youngsters add their ornaments to the tree, they even replaced and painted a broken Rudolph.

Greens Nursery has once again stepped forward with its 'guess the lights' competition. Clues for the exact number have been placed with local merchants. Pick up your first clue at Greens and you will be directed where to find the next business with a clue. Visit all the merchants on the list and you should be able to figure out the number of lights in the decoration. The winner will receive $500 cash for holiday shopping.

The committee meets weekly at 9 a.m. each Thursday at the Chamber office.