The Giving Tree

Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of our Savior - Jesus Christ!

Christmas is also a time for family, food, and gifts!  However, for many local families, the Christmas season is often a very difficult time of year.  Concerns from low-income families struggling to make ends meet with rent, heating, food costs, etc…often means children aren’t able to receive anything beyond the basic, such as a Christmas gift. 

What is the Giving Tree?

The Taylor County Christmas Giving Tree is an important program in which less fortunate children receive Christmas gifts through the generosity of over 25 local businesses and organizations.  The program has been operating for more than 13 years and for the last 6 years St. Paul's has run the program.

Hoes does it work?

From October through the beginning of December, low-income applicants complete an application in which they indicate what gifts their child would need or like for Christmas.  The requests are not just for toys and games but often for basic needs such as: socks, hats, gloves, jackets, pants, boots, shoes, shirts, blankets, etc.  Each organization is then given a list of gifts to buy.  Most places hang the gift information on tags on a Christmas tree at their place of business.  The gifts are then bought and dropped off at St. Paul's by a certain date in December.  The gifts are then wrapped by volunteers at the church and distributed to the families in time for Christmas.

A record year in 2012

 In 2012, we had a record number of applicants and over 500 children and adults in need received gifts through the program.  It is estimated that volunteers wrapped over 1,300 packages that were given to those in need!  Thanks to St. Paul's members and the hundreds of people around the community who donated their time, talents, and resources!

Click here to read a story and an editorial about the Giving Tree written by the local newspaper - the Star News.

Interested in helping in 2013? 

• We are always in need of individuals and organizations/businesses to buy gifts for those in need.
• Donations of wrapping supplies (paper, tape, gift bags) are greatly appreciated.
• 100% of the financial donations to this program are used to buy last minute gift requests. (Checks can be made out to:  St. Paul's - Giving Tree and mailed to St. Paul's 321 N. Park Ave.  Medford, WI 54451)
• We will need people to help wrap gifts at the church from December 11-18.  The parents then pickup the wrapped gifts at church on Thursday, December 19.

• GIFT BUYERS --- gifts are due back to St. Paul's unwrapped by December 11

If you have any questions, please contact Mike Lindau, Ministry Manager and Coordinator of the Giving Tree program.

Thanks to the hundreds of volunteers around the county who help make this program possible!!!

God's Work. Our Hands.