A 2018 photo of the Trafalgar Tree of Caring. Volunteers can come in and take ornaments off the tree this year located at Rosebuds Salon in Trafalgar to go shopping for a family.
DAILY JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
A decades-long tradition in Trafalgar helps ensure no local child wakes up on Christmas morning without a present.
Since the early 1990s, the Trafalgar Tree of Caring has helped families of the Indian Creek school district with their needs around the holiday season — whether that is purchasing gifts or groceries.
Each year, paper ornaments for different children are placed on a tree located at Rosebuds Salon, formerly the Place for Hair, in Trafalgar. Written on the ornaments are the child’s name and some items on their Christmas list. Volunteers can pick up ornaments and go shopping for the gifts on the list.
“If anyone needs assistance, or they’re having a hard time, that’s what we’re here for,” said Beth Cline, program coordinator.
The tree of caring originally started around 20 years ago by Sandy Adams, who wanted to help local children in need for Christmas, and Cline helped out here and there before taking over about seven years ago. The tree has become a staple in the community, and dozens of people, churches and organizations help out.
“It takes a village, it takes so many of us to do it,” Cline said.
Now, dozens of families are helped each year. Families can ask for help in a number of ways, whether its through word-of-mouth to contact Cline or signing up through Indian Creek schools. School nurse Jill Lawalin helps out a lot with connecting families, Cline said.
Once they receive family names, Cline and volunteers contact the families to find out their needs, such as what gifts their children want, or if they need help buying food. Everything is done privately and the families’ full names are not released. She tries to collect all the names by Thanksgiving, but they also continue collecting names after that.
“We will never ever turn anyone down. We’ve had people call us the last day … and say, ‘I need help,’ and we’ll take them and we’re going to make sure they have Christmas,” Cline said.
Cline and other volunteers spend time equally dividing items on different ornaments for people to pick. She said for the same child, she will place multiple ornaments and write clothes on one ornament and toys on another. This is to divide up the costs for volunteers and make sure a child gets multiple presents on Christmas. If a family has more than one child, they make sure the amount of gifts are equal for each person.
Volunteers can also shop for the parents, to help with groceries, food or gas expenses. Cline in the past has gifted grocery and gas cards to families.
Many groups, including churches, sponsor entire families, and shop for them.
“For the past several years, we’ve had a huge demand for churches wanting to sponsor a family or our bus garage at our school will sponsor a family, or a third grade class will sponsor a family,” Cline said.
Lamb Lake Bass Masters, a bass fishing club based in Trafalgar, is one organization that is a big help for the tree of caring, Cline said. Members typically take a lot of names to buy gifts for, and the wives of the fishermen members also take parents shopping to pick out gifts for their children.
Cline said she can’t stress how important the giving tree is to families each year. She is also amazed and touched by how many people volunteered to help with gifts this year.
“We’ve had such a hard few years here lately. You know, everyone has been struggling, and the amount of people that want to help and it’s just amazing … I think it does your heart good to know that you’re helping someone,” Cline said.
The Tree of Caring is located at Rosebuds Salon at 100 State Road 135 in Trafalgar. Volunteers can pick names on the tree, and return the gifts to the salon by Dec. 13. Cline hopes to distribute gifts by the time schools lets out for winter break on Dec. 16.
HOW TO HELP
The Trafalgar Tree of Caring is looking for volunteers to purchase gifts or help with other needs of Indian Creek schools families.
To donate, visit Rosbuds Salon in Trafalgar to pick an ornament off the tree. Monetary donations are also accepted.
Gifts need to be returned back to the salon by Dec. 13.
Questions? Contact Beth Cline: 317-409-1464
Rosebuds Salon, 100 State Road 135, Trafalgar
Monday: 9 a.m. -5 p.m.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
