Children's Christmas Tree program registration set for Nov. 6 in Jacksonville

Applications for this year's Children's Christmas Tree program will be taken from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 6, at The HOPE Center, 595 S. Ragsdale St. in Jacksonville.

Bilingual volunteers also are sought to help assist Spanish-speaking families with the application process, and are welcome to show up at HOPE by 10 a.m. that morning.

The Children's Christmas Tree program is a local non-profit organization that has aided Jacksonville ISD families by helping provide them with gifts since 1982.

Organizers ask that applicants provide proof of identity, social security cards for all family members, proof of all income and a copy of all bills.

Families also are asked to provide sizes of clothing, shoes and their child/children's Christmas wishes. The information will be placed as ornaments on Christmas trees set up at the local Austin, Southside and Texas National banks, as well as select businesses; trees will be set up during the week of Nov. 22.

Sponsors must purchase and return gifts by Wednesday, Dec. 15; volunteers will pick them up from sponsor locations the following day, and sorted Dec. 16-17 at People’s Church, 14089 U.S. Highway 79 E., with distribution set for Dec. 18.

Sponsors also may donate by making a deposit to the Children’s Christmas Tree fund at an Austin Bank location.

Last year, 60 to 65 families – approximately 200 children – benefited from the Children’s Christmas Tree program, said organizer Janet McDaniel, who added that this year's goal is to help an additional 200 kids.

Updates can be found on the "Children’s Christmas Tree" page on Facebook; contact McDaniel via the page's Messenger feature.