Giving Trees provide opportunity to share love at Christmas season

    Imperial Manor/Parkview Heights, Hayden Outdoors and Wolf Auto all have Christmas trees decorating their facilities this holiday season.
    However, the three trees are more than just decorations. They are part of two separate Giving Tree projects in the community.
    At the community’s senior care facilities of Imperial Manor/Parkview Heights, tags for 55 residents there can be selected from their tree.
    At Hayden Outdoors and Wolf Auto, there is a Giving Tree at each business with names of youths in the area who can be helped to have a special Christmas this year.
    Organizing the Giving Tree at Hayden Outdoors and Wolf Auto are three middle school youths, Ginny Siverson, Logan Siverson and Grayson Owens.
    They started the Giving Tree last year, when most of the front entry area was filled with gifts by mid-December.
    A total of 116 children and some adults were provided gifts at Christmas last year, they said.
    “After the success that we had last year, we are gearing up to do it again,” said Tammy Siverson, who with husband Todd are helping the youths with the project.
    It’s expanding, too, with a second site at Wolf Auto where people can acquire names and drop off gifts
    The youths said gifts should be returned unwrapped.
    That’s part of the fun, Ginny Siverson said—wrapping the gifts before they go out to the children and families.
    “And it’s kids helping kids,” Logan Siverson said.
    Petko of Wolf Auto said being involved in the community is important to him and his staff here.
    “In Ogallala, we have the same giving spirit as here and wanted to do something in Imperial,” he said.
    He said he contacted some local business leaders and joined forces with the youth-coordinated Giving Tree.
    Ornaments on both trees will be available at both sites starting Monday.
    The youths and Petko have set a goal of serving 150 individuals with gifts this year.
    They ask they be returned unwrapped  to either site by Dec. 15 in time to distribute before Christmas.
    “Be sure to return the foam ornament with each child’s information and assigned number with the gift to identify who the gift goes to,” Tammy Siverson said.
    Area churches and other outlets have been contacted to submit names for the Giving Tree, she said. Names should be submitted by this Friday.
    There will be a wrapping party after Dec. 15 at Wolf Auto after presents are returned. The community can take part, as well. Watch for the date to be announced later for that.
Senior care facilities bring back Giving Tree project
    All 55 residents at Imperial Manor and Parkview/Heights will be remembered at Christmas, thanks to the generosity of the community and staff at the facilities.
    Lynne West, CEO, said they are now distributing tags with a resident’s age and three gift items they would like under the tree for Christmas.
    She said the Giving Tree project was disbanded the past two years due to COVID, but staff wanted to do it again this year.
    Individuals, families, organizations or businesses wanting to take part can either call to participate or stop in the facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays to select a tag from the tree, she said.
    A phone call to Ellie Upton, Activities Manager, at 308-882-5333, can also be made for a selection that way. People can also ask to buy gifts for a specific resident, she added.
    West said gifts can be returned wrapped or unwrapped by Dec. 15 with the original tag with it.
    “It’s been awhile since we’ve done this here. The staff really wanted to do it again and stepped up,” West said.