SOROPTIMIST COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS TREE

Vintage Faire Mall, Modesto, November 17—December 19, 2007

The Soroptimist Community Christmas Tree Project is a one-on-one gift-giving tree sponsored annually by Soroptimist International of Modesto and Modesto-North Clubs, which operates the weekend before Thanksgiving through December 19. The project is a 501 (c) (3) public charity. The project provides for individuals to donate and participate in a gift-giving program for disadvantaged youths, ages of birth to 17 years. The project is a true partnership between the community and businesses to make a difference in Modesto, California.

See "Donations and Volunteers" for information on how you can help!

The names of the children are referred by social service agencies and Modesto area schools. As a direct result of the Soroptimist Community Christmas Tree nearly 4000 disadvantaged youths in Modesto each year receive Christmas gifts. For most of the children, the gifts they receive through this project are the ONLY gifts that they receive. For some children it is their only opportunity to receive new clothing since they are used to wearing hand-me-downs or other used items. The project also provides an opportunity for many of these children to receive warm coats, new shoes and blankets, which are greatly needed, in addition to a new toy purchased especially for them! Soroptimists do NOT accept the names of children directly from their parents. Children must be referred from one of our participating agencies.

How does the Soroptimist Community Christmas Tree work? A giant Christmas Tree is erected at Vintage Faire Mall each year. Tags are placed on the tree with the names of nearly 4000 disadvantaged youths. The tag indicates the child’s first name, age, sex, clothing and shoe sizes, as well as a Christmas gift wish and a needed item. A service booth is set up adjacent to the tree and staffed by Soroptimist members and other volunteers in four-hour shifts daily from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.. An individual selects a tag and checks it out, much like one would check out a library book. The individual purchases a gift for the child and brings it with the tag to the service booth. The gift and tag are checked in and matched up with a parental permission slip container the confidential information on the child and the name of the referring agency or school. The gift is taken to a storage and wrapping room, where gifts are wrapped by volunteers and stored until the referring agency picks up the gift for delivery directly to the child before Christmas. (Both donor and child remain anonymous to each other.)

Referring Agencies - The referring agencies to the Soroptimist Community Christmas Tree Project cover a very diverse population of disadvantaged youth in Modesto. These social service agencies and Modesto area schools are a critical part of the project because they determine the child’s eligibility based on need and economic situation, as well as the responsibility of distributing the gifts to each child personally before Christmas. The referring agencies include:

• Modesto City Schools/Preformal Program: Children from Modesto Head Start program and other children from low income families in target areas from Pearson, Franklin, Tuolumne, Robertson Road, James Marshall, Burbank and Henshaw schools also participate.
• Salvation Army Red Shield: Children with general social needs and from low income families.
• Nepenthean Homes: Foster Care children who are hard to place.
• Haven Women’s Shelter: Children of women in shelters due to domestic violence.
• Community Housing and Shelter: Homeless children in temporary shelters.
• First Step and Laura’s House: Children of women recovering form drug and alcohol addiction.
• Hutton House: Teens with no place to go (temporary shelter)
• Early Intervention: Children with slow development disabilities from low income families from the Stanislaus County Office of Education
• Redwood Family Center: Children of women in aftercare housing for clean and sober living.
• STANCO: Children from homeless families who have recently been placed into this temporary housing program
• Transitional Housing for Foster Care Teens: Foster Care teens, who are in the Stanislaus County Department of Social Services’ Transitional Housing Program
• MCS Robertson Road Daycare Center: Children’s Healthy Start Center.

Donations and Volunteers - Cash donations are donated by individuals and local businesses. These donated funds are used to purchase blankets, sleeping bags, shoes, warm clothing and extra toys for those children whose tags are not chosen. Every child receives a gift through the program, whether or not their tag is chosen. Donations will be accepted at the address indicated below.

For more information on the program or on how you can become a volunteer contact:
Soroptimist Community Christmas Tree
P.O. Box 1353 Modesto, California 95353
JoAnn Found
Patty Good

Revised August 5, 2007