Sharing Tree spreads cheer

Not a single tag was left hanging on the Montgomery Sharing Tree this year, which means local donors helped spread a lot of Christmas cheer! More than 100 people in the community received gifts from anonymous donors through the community’s Sharing Tree tradition this year, explained Karen Hiscox of Aging Services for Communities, who runs the program with help from Happy Hour Bar owner Eileen Segna. Gift recipients this year were located at Golden Years Home, Traditions, Park Manor, Sunrise Farms, Central Health Care, and Alee Services. Some recipients are also clients of Aging Services for Communities. Tri-City United High School Honor Society students Kassidy Korbitz, Amanda Way, Shane Schreiber, and “Montgomery Messenger” editor Wade Young, and Segna, helped deliver the gifts on Wednesday, Dec. 20 and Thursday, Dec. 21. “People were very generous this year,” Hiscox stated. “We even had calls after all the tags were taken from people to see if they could help in some way. People were so generous that they gave additional—above and beyond what was on the tree tags. Those funds are being put to use helping families in the community.” The local Sharing Tree program fills gift requests (up to $20) from community members who are at least 50 years of age. This is the first time the Sharing Tree program was able to give beyond the requested items listed on the tags.