Neighborhood House’s Holiday Giving Trees to spread cheer to families in need

ROCHESTER/ROCHESTER HILLS/OAKLAND TOWNSHIP — The Rochester Area Neighborhood House recently kicked off its annual Holiday Giving Tree program to help make the holidays brighter for local children and families in need.

Last year, Neighborhood House helped more than 400 low-income children in the greater Rochester area through the Holiday Giving Tree program, and organizers expect even more local families to seek assistance for the program this year.

Bris Roberts, the director of marketing and communications for Neighborhood House, said many families in the area are struggling leading into the holiday season.

“Last year, in our Thanksgiving program, we had 185 families sign up, and we have over 250 in need this year, so we are definitely anticipating more families coming through to our holiday program as well,” she said.

Neighborhood House recently kicked off its 2023 Holiday Giving Tree program — which includes traditional gift trees and tags in the community, as well as an electronic shopping option — to provide food, clothing and gifts for those in need.

The giving trees hold tags, each assigned to a child — ages newborn to 18 — in the program with an age-appropriate gift item.

Through Dec. 5, those who prefer to shop in stores can drop off new toys and clothing for the program at one of four locations — Retro Fitness, 637 N. Main St.; the Rochester Hills Public Library, 500 Olde Town Road; the Auburn Hills City Manager’s Office, 1827 N. Squirrel Road; and the Neighborhood House, 1720 S. Livernois Road. All gifts must be new and unwrapped.

The electronic Holiday Giving Tree also allows the community to shop online for the most requested items for struggling families — including hoodies, pajamas, gloves, hats, books, board games, toys and gift cards — and ship them directly to the Neighborhood House by Monday, Dec. 5. Information on how to order via the nonprofit’s Amazon Wish List is available at www.ranh.org.

Last year, 200 families with over 400 children received clothing and gifts through the program, and this year, organizers hope to serve many more.

“The need is there. We don’t want any child to go through the holidays without something special, and we want to make sure that our community is taken care of, both on the holiday and through the winter season,” Roberts added.

Neighborhood House is also working with local churches and organizations to facilitate the distribution of holiday food baskets for individuals and families in need. Last year, 355 families received a food basket. Donations of nonperishable food items, gifts, cash and gift cards can be given anytime, because if the donations aren’t used immediately for the holidays, they can be put toward the food pantry program or other giving programs throughout the year.

For more information, to adopt a family or to make a donation, call the Neighborhood House at (248) 651-5836, ext. 36, or email bris@ranh.org.