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No Comments [ Add Comment ]Out on a Limb / Kiwanis hope to help spread joy via Gift Tree
By Loretta ParkLAYTON -- The Layton Kiwanis Club hopes to help Santa fill the wishes of Davis County children in need for the second year in a row.
This year the Layton chapter is sponsoring 100 children, ages 5 to 17, said Jeanene Moran.
Their gender, ages and wishes are on paper cut-out Christmas ornaments, which Moran made. Sleds, candy canes and gingerbread men are hanging on a "Gift Tree" at the Golden Corral, 1624 Heritage Park Blvd., Layton.
The tree went up on Friday. Anyone can take an ornament and bring it back with a present to receive a coupon from the restaurant that can go toward a meal, she said.
Last year, the group sponsored 90 children, but was only able to fulfill 77 of the requests, said her husband, Bill Moran, the treasurer of the group.
He said he believes people will help more this year than last year because the economy is bad.
"People have a tendency to step up to the plate and help others, even when they're having a hard time," he said.
The group got the list of the children from the Family Connection Center, which sponsors a Sub for Santa program.
Sharon Anderson, director of the Family Connection Center, said the Layton Kiwanis chapter is just one of several organizations in Davis County sponsoring a gift tree. First National Bank and Davis Hospital and Medical Center are two others offering assistance this year.
Anderson said the organizations helped more than 1,200 children, ages 18 and younger, with Christmas last year. The Family Connection Center is also accepting unwrapped gifts for children, as well as cash donations, to help those in need, Anderson said.
The center will take applications for those in need until Dec. 24, she said.
"There are more people who need help this year," Anderson said. "Also people who are used to helping us are less able to do it."
For information on how to donate to the Family Connection Center or to apply for help, call 773-0712.
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