Help Share the Spirit of Christmas
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Editor,
Children 12 and under in Lake County experience a brighter Christmas with the help of Share the Spirit Holiday Assistance Program. Volunteers with Share the Spirit have begun their Santa work by distributing applications to agencies that work with county residents.
For 13 years, STS elves have worked to help struggling families with toys, clothes and gifts at Christmas. In 2010, we helped 1,200 children in 437 families. STS originated in response to a plea from county agencies trying to fill holiday needs, often with personal funds and energy.
STS cooperates with other agencies to reduce the possibility of duplication of efforts, which allows more children to be helped. Our partnership with the Toys for Tots program gives us a good toy inventory.
Applications are now available at the Lake County Office of Public Assistance, Public Health Department, DOVES, Helping Hands or Working Innovations. Deadline for completed applications to be returned to these agencies is Dec. 5.
Around Thanksgiving, trees filled with colorful gift-request tags will stand in Polson at: Glacier Bank, Eagle Bank, Lake County Leader, Lake County Courthouse, St. Joseph Medical Center and Walmart. In Ronan, trees will stand at Community Bank, Flower Mill, The Gift Gallery, Hanson and Granley True Value Hardware, Harvest Foods, S&K Electronics, St. Luke Hospital and Valley Journal. In St. Ignatius, trees will be in Rod’s Harvest Foods and Lake County Bank. Tags will also be found on trees in several churches and schools.
Folks are asked to take one or more tags, purchase one or more items requested on the tag, and return the unwrapped gifts to the tree where the tag was picked up by Dec. 15.
This year STS volunteer elves will again set up their workshop in the former DRS building on South Hills at the top of Polson hill south of town. Volunteers will be needed between Dec. 12 and Dec. 22. Keep this telephone number available to volunteer: 883-4160.
STS is a 501(c)3 nonprofit registered with the IRS. Donations are welcome and can be mailed to Share the Spirit, P.O. Box 1341, Polson, MT 59860.
Toni Young, chairperson
Share the Spirit Board of Directors
Polson
