Giving Tree Project:
Diana Osterfeld headed up the project. The Perham
Lions donated money and were able to purchase 18 gifts for the Giving Tree. The Perham Lions that helped: Diana Osterfeld, Arnie Thompson, Connie
Thompson, Harriet Mattfeld, Denise Banz, and Mary Paulseth.
The Giving Tree is sponsored by the Perham Ministerial Association and the Perham Area Chamber of Commerce.
This community project is chaired by Lisa and Lion Steve Sheets; and has been for the past 14 years.
The Giving Tree is a wonderful way to help children in the area receive a gift at Christmas, who otherwise may not receive one. Requests are made for children by the United Way, Otter Tail Human Services, churches and schools. Request forms are returned to Ghost Runner, which then gives them to Lisa Sheets. Lisa takes each request, and codes it to a card, keeping children’s and family’s names anonymous and confidential.
Cards are placed on the Giving Tree describing the child’s wishes for a gift. You can pick a card off the tree, which is displayed at Ghost Runner, buy the gift, wrap it and bring it back to Ghost Runner. These special gifts are anonymous, so the giver and recipient of the gift never meet. Last year, 228 children received Christmas gifts.
The deadline to purchase a gift and return the card to the Ghost Runner office is Dec. 14, 2009.
