“If it wasn’t for this tree, more than 100 kids wouldn’t have a Christmas,” says John Howard Society program manager Steve Ayers.
The tree he is referring to is the Sears Tree of Wishes where the hopes of 118 children, from one year old to 16, are hanging. For the second year Campbell River Sears and the John Howard Society have teamed up to provide a way for caring Campbell River residents to brighten what could be a bleak holiday without presents. Last year, 26 kids were registered.
The boys and girls whose wishes are hanging on the tree are participating in John Howard Society mentoring programs like the KidsStart Program.
Sears provided them with copies of the Sears Christmas Wish Book catalogue so they could find their perfect gift.
The gifts selected run the Christmas gamut such as a Newberry Alley doll, a Tigger Travel mug, My First Craftsman Chainsaw, a Kidizoom camera, Hip Street MP3 Player and more. All these gift ideas are attached as snowflakes on the tree waiting for a donor to pick them off and purchase the gift.
Ayers says: “When we get an opportunity to partner with a local business like Sears that has such a positive presence in the community, it substantially increases the chances that our efforts to help kids will be more successful.”