ASHLAND —
With the deadline for signing up for the annual Community Assistance & Referral Service Giving Tree rapidly approaching, the number who have signed up is running considerably behind 2011.
As of Tuesday morning, 240 had signed up for the Giving Tree, and that includes adults who only sign up for holiday food vouchers.
In 2011, 747 families and 923 children were served through the Giving Tree, said Trish Hall, executive director of CAReS. “As of today, we are considerably below having even half of those we served last year, and we are not sure why that is.”
While she also is not sure why fewer have signed up this year, Ashley Traylor, a CAReS VISTA worker and coordinator for the program, said she does not believe the need is less.
“The process is a bit more complicated,” Traylor said. “Parents need to sign up for a Neighborhood card for themselves and their families before they can sign up for the Giving Tree. Our current bad weather may present another barrier.”
The deadline for signing up for the Giving Tree is Friday, but Hall said a decision will be made today about extending it.
New this year for all participants is required possession of a white Neighborhood card. Individuals who have not yet come to CAReS to complete a white card for all household members must sign up prior to the Giving Tree. Registration is available at the CAReS office in The Neighborhood at 25th Street and Carter Avenue between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Hall said signing up can be a bit time consuming, adding most of those assisting with the paperwork are volunteers.
Documents needed for the cards include a photo ID, proof of Boyd County residency and household income, Social Security numbers and birth dates for all in the household. Two months’ statements are also required if a family has a bank account.
Ages 16 and younger may participate in the Giving Tree. To sign up, custodial adults must bring photo IDs, Neighborhood cards for everyone in the household, proof of Boyd County residency (utility bill, rent receipt, etc.), children’s Social Security cards; and each child’s clothing sizes and wish list.
Participants are cross-referenced with other agencies providing similar services, including the Salvation Army and school programs, in an effort to eliminate duplicate signups.
Giving Trees are at the Ashland Town Center and other locations in the weeks before Christmas, and people select names from the tree, purchase gifts and return them for distribution. It is one of the biggest projects of the year for CAReS.
For more information about the program, call CAReS at (606) 324-2949.
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