Tree of Hope to provide Christmas gifts to local children
The Unicoi County Clerks office is hosting its annual Tree of Hope program again this Christmas season. The tree benefits countless children across the county.
The program works similar to the Angel Tree program hosted by the Johnson City Mall different children in need have been added to the tree and people are encouraged to stop by the clerks office to pick up one of the ornaments off of the tree.
Each ornament has a sort of card, or placard, that lists a particular childs needs. People then go shop for the child based on their needs and return the goods to the office to be presented to the child on Dec. 20.
Years ago, we wanted to do something for the kids here in the county and we came up with the idea of doing the Tree of Hope, said County Clerk Mitzi Bowen. We get families from here in the county and its Unicoi County families. Its families that we know need things at Christmas time that are having a hard time.
It could be your next door neighbor or the person you sit next to in church or the person youre working with
everybody has hard times.
Bowens office adopts out all of the placards around Christmas time and Bowen said that the program has grown so much that they are now also able to provide food boxes to families in need.
Its grown so much that its unreal how much our little county will give, said Bowen.
On each of the cards is information pertaining to each individual child. The children receive coats, shoes and other forms of clothing that they may need. And of course, they get a toy. Bowens office began the program back before Thanksgiving, opting to start early because people wanted to adopt a card in time for Black Friday. The deadline to have all of the packages into the office is the week of Dec. 15. Pickup days for the families is Dec. 20.
Donations can be contributed for the tree anytime before then and may be taken to the county clerks office.
I want to thank all of those who have donated this year, said Bowen. Like I said, its amazing how heartwarming this little county is. It has made a lot of kids very happy this year for Christmas. Theyll be well taken care of.