Giving trees go up this week for Saint Mary’s University Gifts for Winona

Saint Mary’s University Gifts for Winona giving trees will be going up before Thanksgiving. This communitywide program is providing gifts to area children and seniors in need this holiday season.

Tags, each labeled with a different person’s holiday gift wishes, will be placed on area giving trees this week. Gifts for Winona’s main priority is to provide gifts to children 18 and younger and individuals 60 and older.

In addition to a tree in Saint Mary’s Hall, trees will be located at the three Severson-Sinclair locations, Walmart, the Winona Public Library, the Winona Post, and Security State Bank of Lewiston. Additionally, grocery cards can be purchased for families at both HyVee and Midtown Foods.

The SMU community is invited to take a tag from the Saint Mary’s tree, shop for items on the gift list and return wrapped gifts by Dec. 12 to the Business Office. The recommended amount for holiday gifts is approximately $35 per person. Tags should be securely taped to the outside of the presents or the bag of presents.

As the gift distribution is early this year — mid- December — the community is asked to begin their season of giving early as well. The success of this program depends on the generosity of the Winona-area community.

For more information, call the Gifts for Winona line at Ext. 8719. Other community partners that join SMU to help make this program possible are the Winona Post, Winona Radio and Winona Volunteer Services.