SYLACAUGA, Ala. – Coosa Pines Federal Credit Union (Coosa Pines FCU) has raised its Christmas Giving Tree up for the holidays. The Giving Tree, which was opened to the public for the first time last year, gives people from around the community a chance to help provide Christmas gifts for a child in need.
Here is how it works.
There are tags with a child’s name and a gift wish on the tree. People are welcome to select a tag from the tree, purchase the item and place the unwrapped gift back under the tree with the tag on it.
According to Aimee Morris, Marketing Director at Coosa Pines FCU, the company actually matches what the public donates in cash and gifts to double the value.
“We started having people who were not members that heard about it who really supported it. They ended up giving about $4,500 worth of gifts and donations, so we ended up spending $9,000 for Christmas for over 150 children last year,” said Morris.
Coosa Pines FCU transfers all donations and gifts over to DHR which then distributes them among the children who are either in foster care or in need.
According to Don Carden, CEO of Coosa Pines FCU, a few of the areas benefiting from the giving tree are Clay, Coosa and Talladega counties.
“Some of the things that the kids had on their wish list last year were underwear, t-shirts, jackets, warm blankets and pillows,” said Carden. “These are the things that we think of as basics that everybody has.”
Morris said that the communities were so supportive last year that CPFCU actually to go back and ask for more children to gift with presents. She also said that they will need all the help they can get again this year.
“This is very important because these children have gone through a very difficult time,” said Morris. “They are not with their biological families anymore for whatever reason that may be, and, from what we hear from DHR, this has made a huge difference for them. They have been grateful to everyone.”
The deadline to donate is Friday, Dec. 13th, but Carden says it is not a hard deadline. “If people still want to contribute gifts or donations after then they are welcome to contact us or bring it in.”
