35 families and 155 children make up the 2024 Giving Tree.
     What will their Christmas this year be?
The teens are so full of emotions.
     The girls want Bath and Body Works lotions.
Also, gift cards are great for the teens.
     This way they can pick their own games, leggings and jeans.
Children want a school bus and a pirate ship.
     Necessary for an imaginary play trip.
Nerf guns for the 3 brothers,
     So they can play with each other.
Water bottles for school,
     So they can hydrate and stay cool.
A little girl wants a cookbook.
     So she can give new recipes a look.
Footballs and rollerblades.
     Should we also get band-aids?
Christmas list written in a child’s scrawl.
     They want a set of light up baseballs.
Remote control trucks and cars.
     Make eyes light up with stars.
Paint, crayons and other art supplies.
     Bring happy cries.
Dolls from Frozen
     Have also been chosen.
Learning toys with music and lights.
     Stuffed animals of pink, purple and white.
Helmets and bikes.
     They are some of the children’s likes.
A duck and turkey call.
     For hunting each fall.
Paper and an origami kit
     For one little girl would be a perfect fit.
These families really need you.
     So they can have a great Christmas too.
A single dad and mom.
     Trying to keep their children calm.
A family of 8,
     Who aren’t doing so great.
Lack of housing means they live in a hotel.
     Unfortunately, it’s the only place they can dwell.
The mother who works 5 to 5, seven days a week.
     Her Christmas looks bleak.
The teen girl with face cancer.
     Looking for the right treatment answer.
The 6-month-old boy in metal braces.
     The long ordeal he faces.
The special needs boy who cried.
     Hands clutched tightly at his side.
He wasn’t expecting to receive any gift.
     His heart was given a lift.
We need everyone to pick a tag.
     Buy the gift and wrap it in a box or a bag.

These families need us today.
     Can we open our hearts and find a way?
We can’t help Baby Jesus in the manger,
    But we can help a tiny stranger.

Vickie Nicholson