Published: November 02, 2009 09:11 pm      

Children’s Christmas Tree takes applications Saturday

By Lauren LaFleur

assistanteditor@jacksonville progress.com



Bobbie Haight and her family and friends have a once-a-year hobby many might not realize — they become Santa’s helpers.

This year, Haight and her crew of “elves” are ready to start making children’s Christmas dreams come true. They will take applications for the Children’s Christmas Tree 1-4 p.m. Saturday at the Senior Center, 302 S. Bolton, across from Discount City.

This is the only time applications for placement on the trees will be taken, and children aged 6 months to 14 years are eligible if their family meets the requirements.

“Last year we had about 150-230 on it,” Haight said. She said only Cherokee County children are included on the tree, and the majority of those are from Jacksonville.

The Children’s Christmas Tree started in 1984 and has since been passed into Haight’s capable hands.

“It’s just become a family thing,” she said. “It’s me, my three daughters and my grandkids, and a few others that do it.”

The group begins by taking applications for inclusion on the tree. Each child whose family meets income and circumstance requirements is placed on the tree with a list of clothing sizes, needs and even a few wants. Those special Christmas trees are then placed in banks around Jacksonville so anyone who wants may pick a child’s name from the tree and help Santa — and his merry band of Haight helpers — make sure every little boy or girl has something to open on Christmas morning.

“Christmas is for kids,” Haight said. “I enjoy doing this. I enjoy when people are really grateful.

“Some say, ‘this is all we get for Christmas,’ and we’ve had others that cry when they get the gifts. That’s worth it.”

Haight said anyone who would like to volunteer to help take applications Saturday is welcome — just knock on the back door of the Senior Center to be let in. Bilingual volunteers are especially needed, she said.

Anyone who would like to apply to place a child on the Children’s Christmas Tree should bring the following with them Saturday:

• Social Security or ID cards for everyone in the household

• driver’s license

• rent/house payment receipts

• utility receipts

• proof of income (either AFDC award letter, paycheck stubs or other proof of income)

• proof of unexpected expenses

• clothing sizes for all children requesting help

• gift suggestions for each child