Wish tree helps vets at Christmas

The public is again invited to participate in providing Christmas gifts for veterans residing at the Montana Veterans’ Home through the Christmas wish tree at the Kalispell Center Mall.

The wish tree is decorated with a tag for each resident of the Veterans’ Home. On the back of the tag is a resident number and requests for needs or wants for that resident compiled by the elves at the home. Requests reflect the abilities or disabilities of the resident, sizes, and specific details as available. New items are requested due to hygiene concerns.

There are also tags with extra supply items requested by the home and distributed to residents as needed. Postage stamps, gifts certificates, clocks, headphones, headphone extenders, DVD players are some of the extra items requested.

A logbook is provided to sign out tags as they are removed from the tree, and to check tags in when returned attached to the wrapped gifts. The collection box is located by the tree. Gifts will be collected daily, and transported to the Veterans’ Home.

The tree is inside the southwest door by the Dairy Queen, and available through Dec. 19. The gift distribution party will be held at the Veterans’ Home on Dec. 21. The wish tree is sponsored by our local veterans organizations coordinated by chief elf Mary Beth Arnold. Questions may be directed to Bonnie Stutsman at the Veterans’ Home at 892-3256, or Mary Beth Arnold at 892-4732.