2009 Celebrates over 270 trees given to over 270 families!!!

The Giving Tree Project is a community charity developed in 1996 by the Excelsior Area Chamber of Commerce. The purpose of the project was to give decorated trees to families in the South Lake Community and its surrounding areas. The first year of the Giving Tree Project, the Excelsior Fire Department participated in the project in a volunteer role only. In 1997 the Excelsior Fire Department partnered with the Excelsior Area Chamber of Commerce and became the project organizer and guardian. In early December, the trees which have been donated by Maggie’s Trees since the projects beginning are placed outside Excelsior business for, as it’s been dubbed, “Foster Care”. The merchants provide electricity for the lights and give the trees T.L.C when needed. Everything is donated, from the Christmas lights and tree stands, to the wood used for the Stars. Stars are cut out of wood and given to local organizations for decorating.

One of the business owners writes a poem to place on the tree so a passer by can learn about and participate in the project. The trees receive the rest of their decorations from various resources. A promotional campaign for public decorating is started weeks before the trees arrive. The campaign asks citizens to donate ornaments and tree trimming to the Giving Tree Project. Decorations can be homemade, brand new, or have had previous tree experience. Flyers are sent to the schools and scout troops asking them to adopt a tree to decorate. It all comes together on Giving Tree pick up day at week before Christmas when the decorated trees are given to the clients of Resource West. K.A.R.E. 11 featured the Giving Tree Project as one of there holiday K.A.R.E. 11 News Extra’s in 2002. Since 1996 more then 250 families have received decorated trees from this community charity.