Giving Tree at Saint Barabara's

   

Giving Tree

St. Barbara Parish directly supports a number of mission projects. Most notable of these are Father Wasson’s orphanage in Mexico, the Maple Valley, Washington Food Bank and the Kent, Washington branch of Catholic Community Services, and King County Habitat for Humanity. Then there is the Giving Tree.

The Giving Tree is an Advent effort by hundreds of parish families to provide a wonderful Christmas to at least a dozen needy, local households. Mark and Brooke Dillon, long time members of St. Barbara Parish, started the Giving Tree about nine years ago. In that time it has grown from a small start to an annual $14,000 effort. More than anything else, the Giving Tree is a tangible witness to the love that exists in the hearts of St. Barbara parishioners.

How the Giving Tree works is quite simple. Each year Catholic Community Services helps the parish identify at least twelve very needy households. A plywood "tree" with a manger scene painted on it is placed on an easel in the main church vestibule right around Thanksgiving time. The tree is covered with rows of hooks. Color coded tags hang from the hooks. The tags identify specific family members. Printed on each tag is a recommended gift. Parishioners take one or more tag, purchase the gift, and then bring it, wrapped, to church where it goes by the Christmas tree until the delivery date — usually about two weeks prior to Christmas.

Yes, fun presents such as games and bicycles are purchased for the individual family members. But, more importantly, each family member is provided with necessary items for daily living such as shoes, underwear and outerwear, beds for families that do not have them, towels, soap, food (a lot of it) and even windows where these may be broken or missing entirely.