Sweetser’s annual holiday gift tag program is underway until December 17, when members of the community can pick holiday gifts for children in Crisis and Residential Services to make sure they are able to experience the joy of Christmas away from their families and homes. In the past 20 years, the community has donated 8,000 gifts (and counting) to the program. Participation only requires a simple online purchase that will have a huge impact on children who receive the gifts.
Karen Harper of IDEXX organizes the participation of her company’s employees in Sweetser’s Holiday Gift Tag Program every year for approximately 20 years. “People are thrilled to be able to help local families. We’ve had participation from virtual employees from all over the U.S. take part this year.” She added that “hosting the Giving Tree annually to support Sweetser provides a welcome way to help a very deserving group.”
Sweetser staff member Jennifer Adams recalls the many years she worked in direct care with children at Sweetser and saw firsthand the impact that donated gifts make for children going through an especially hard time. “I always asked to work Christmas so I could be there in the morning when the children opened their gifts. It made them feel special that someone cared enough to think of them.”
In the photo: A pre-COVID photo of IDEXX employees dropping off presents at Sweetser.