Private Business Lights Up Holiday Tree

Decorated in white lights, red ornaments and gold angels, the Snake River Sporting Club’s Christmas tree will provide holiday gifts for dozens of local children and teens in need.

During it’s first Angel Tree collection drive, the club will adorn its green with gold angels representing each youngster living at the C bar V Ranch, a residential school for troubled students, and at the Van Vleck House, a group home and crisis shelter. Each angel will have the first name, age and size of a young person represented, as well as two items- one need and one wish – he or she hopes to receive.

“If we get to help one child, that’s great,” said Lori Cochran, the club’s marketing director. “It’s just our hope to bring a smile to these children’s faces who are unexpecting of this gift. Just to bring a little happiness to [their] lives during the holiday season.”

The club decided to host the Angel Tree collection drive upon realizing it had space and the tree and saw the need to help local kids. While it was a last minute decision, the club hopes the drive will draw community support and looks forward to growing it in future years. “This was a good start, an hopefully it will initiate some of the other businesses who have an opportunity to give more,” Cochran said.

Those interested in providing gift donations can pick up an angel at the club’s 60 East Broadway location at its holiday party from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Monday. Donors can continue to pick up angels and drop off gifts at the office during the business hours through Dec. 21.

While most of the youngsters asked for winter coasts, snow pants or snow boots as their need item, their wish list requests varied. One 16-year-old girl hopes for a hair straitener this Christmas, a 12-year-old girls wants a pink or purple backpack and one 17-year-old girl, so set on receiving a pair of brown furry snow boots, requested them as her need and wish list item.

“Some of them have very dismal Christmases at home,” said Beth Shockley, C bar V Ranch Christmas coordinator. “We’re excited because it …gives students an opportunity to get something they probably wouldn’t otherwise.”

But more than Christmas gifts, it’s the thought that counts, according to Arty Polo, Van Vleck House case manager.

“The main thing is it’s nice for the kids to know that the community in Jackson cares,” he said. “We have a handful of kids that probably won’t be going home for the holidays, and it’s just nice for some of these guys to know that people are thinking about them.”

Back    |    Learn more about Snake River Sporting Club Real Estate