Bank Plans Two Gift Trees for Local Children and Senior Citizens!
Two local communities will benefit from Gift Tree programs sponsored by The First National Bank in Trinidad and the Huerfano County Branch in Walsenburg. Each location has its own gift program with varying deadlines. Here are the details on each.
The Huerfano County Branch, in cooperation with the Huerfano County Social Services Agency, is again planning their North Pole Gift Tree for the holidays. Each year they have brightened the lives of numerous children and senior citizens who have written Santa for books, games, baby dolls, miniature trucks and cars, warm coats, gloves, socks and hats to name a few items.
Beginning November 21st, the North Pole Gift Tree will be displayed in the bank lobby at 135 W. 6th Street in Walsenburg. Attached will be actual letters written by children and local seniors. Letters will note whether the child is a boy or girl and will provide an age. Senior letters will note whether they are a man or woman. Choose a letter and fulfill their request. Drop off your gift-wrapped present with a Christmas tag showing the number from the letter no later than Friday, December 14th at the branch. Parents can pick up their child’s gift between December 20th and December 24th at the Branch to help Santa deliver them on Christmas Eve. Seniors can pick up their gifts during the same time frame.
Last year, a total of 103 wishes were fulfilled. Both the giver and receiver will experience the gift of giving. Please stop by and pick up a letter any time after November 21st. If you should require additional information about the North Pole Gift Tree program in Walsenburg, call the branch bank at (719) 738-3594.
Trinidad already has several well-established holiday gift programs that primarily focus on children, and often our senior citizens are the forgotten ones. For shut-ins, or seniors with little or no family nearby, the holidays can be an especially lonely time of year. The First National Bank in Trinidad would like to make their Christmas a little brighter this year with the help of South Central Council of Governments, Corazon Square, Las Animas County Department of Social Services, SER-National, Trinidad Inn Nursing Home and generous people like you.
Santa’s Gift Tree will be displayed in the bank lobby at 100 E. Main Street, in the Motor Bank Lobby and at the Wal-Mart Branch, November 19th through December 12th. The trees will be decorated with actual letters written to Santa by seniors. Requests may include help with a utility bill, food, or other personal items. Choose a letter and fulfill the request. Drop off your gift-wrapped present no later than Friday, December 14th at the main bank.
“This is the twelfth year we have sponsored this program in Trinidad, and it has grown to 300 requests from senior citizens. The recipients of these gifts are so appreciative. In some cases it is the only Christmas gift they receive. We are pleased with the success of this program; both the giver and the receiver experience the gift of giving,” says Bank Vice President, Chris Egland. “With so many requests, we need the public’s help more than ever! Please stop by and pick up a letter. You’ll be glad you did! With your help, we can give our seniors the assistance they need and a special holiday memory to treasure.”
For more information about the gift tree program in Trinidad contact Chris Egland at (719) 859-3670.
Photos courtesy First National Bank
Santa’s Gift Tree organizer, Chris Egland, stands amongst 300 gifts delivered to Las Animas County senior citizens in December 2017.
Volunteers (left to right) Tiffany and Kylie Montoya, and Kristin, Grace and Faith Thurston helped deliver gifts to residents of Corazon Square in December 2017.
There will be 400 letters just like these, written to Santa by children and senior citizens who need to have their wishes fulfilled this year. Will you help make a wish come true? Stop by The First National Bank in Trinidad or the Huerfano County Branch in Walsenburg to make someone’s wish come true.