Since the early 1980s a local program has helped make Christmas happier for families.
Although it’s undergone some changes, including one this year, the Christmas Tree Gift Project continues to provide food and gifts for those who need a boost during the holidays.
It actually all started before the 1980s, when the West Winfield Rotary Club provided gift baskets of food and a holiday meal to those in need.
In the early 1980s Father Donald Kelly, pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in West Winfield, and a Rotarian, expanded the program to include the Gift Tree idea.
Starting with St. Joseph’s, it has now expanded to include the Federated Church of West Winfield, Leonardsville Methodist Church, Bridgewater Congregational Church and Millers Mills Community Baptist Church.
Local businesses and individual families also participate.
The Gift Trees are decorated with tags containing information on a gift requested by a participant.
Anyone who lives in the Mount Markham Central School District area can participate and ask to receive a gift for themselves, for children or a food gift
card.
Because of the pandemic, the Rotary Club ...