Sparta Holiday Wish Tree returns and grows

For more than 25 years, the Holiday Wish Tree in the Sparta Library has been making holidays happier for children in Sussex County. The Junior Woman’s Club of Sparta presents the tree as a vehicle through which community members can give gifts to children in need.

This year the Wish Tree is expanding. In addition to gift drop-off at the Sparta Library, there will be an additional tree at Sparta Books to collect new books for the children.

Sussex County Community College will join with a tree of its own this year. For those unable to visit a tree in person, there is an electronic gift list on the Junior Woman’s Club of Sparta website at jwcsparta.org.

“There are many children in our county whose Christmas will be made brighter through the generosity of our community,” says the Junior Woman’s Club of Sparta. “Help make this holiday season one of giving by visiting the Holiday Wish Tree.”

There are a few easy options to help:

1. If you are gifting through the tree at the library, you can choose a handmade ornament from the tree at the Sparta Library. Each ornament is tagged with the age and gender of a child. Then return a new, unwrapped toy to the library tree – with the tag on the toy. The ornament is yours to keep.

2. At Sparta Books, purchase a new book at the store or anywhere else, and drop it off in the designated box by the store entrance.

3. Lastly, you can choose the electronic option by visiting jwcsparta.org and clicking on the Wish Tree link.

All trees will be displayed from Nov. 15 through Dec. 17.

The Junior Woman’s Club of Sparta delivers these gifts to the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, where the presents are distributed to families based on needs throughout the entire year.

For more information about this program or the Junior Woman’s Club of Sparta, email jwcsparta@gmail.com.