Photo by Catherine Stachowiak
The public is invited to join in the spirit of giving this holiday season by participating in gift giving trees and a meal box drive.
One of the trees and the Meal Box Drive are located in Kernville. The other Giving Tree is located in Lake Isabella at the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce office.
Rhonda Tuttle, owner of a business in Kernville, called Tuttle’s Emporium, has a tree to bring toys to the high school kids that slipped through the cracks, because they’re not younger children or senior citizens. “We’re calling it the Tree of Love and Sharing. Other places in town have done some trees but they had some age restrictions on it. So mine is open to any age group. Anybody is welcome if they’re in need,” she said. To sponsor a child or adult for a gift, pick up their names from the store’s tree now, purchase
the gift, and return it by a week before Christmas.
Tuttle said that so far, her Tree of Love and Sharing has names of people ages senior citizens down to three years of age. “Also I’m doing food boxes for families that need a holiday meal,” she said. The community can support a meal-box, which Tuttle plans to deliver, before the holiday. The cut off date to bring sponsorship for boxes is a couple weeks before Christmas.
The Association of Realtors is also holding a Santa to a Senior Giving Tree, which is unrelated. The Santa to a Senior Tree is up at the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce office in Lake Isabella.
Kelley McCoy, board member to the chamber said, “Stop by, grab a tag and let’s put a smile on everyone’s face this year. All of the seniors are in long-term care at our local hospital.”
Gifts are for the lonely and isolated or financially challenged seniors. Gift requests include slippers, scarves, gloves, blankets, hand lotion, toiletries, stationary, gift cards, flash lights, sweatshirts and puzzles.
To join in giving, first please obtain a senior’s name from the tree. Then obtain the gift they requested. Gifts are due back, gift wrapped with the nametag, by Wednesday December 18.
