LAKEPORT – In the midst of these hard economic times, some annual efforts to collect toys for impoverished children are struggling.

Giving is down significantly this year, said Christina Madeson of Mendo-Lake Credit Union on 11^th Street, where they have various charitable holiday efforts under way, including giving trees for local children.

“Normally it goes really quick and we're requesting extra names,” said Madeson.

But she said this year it's a different story.

The giving tree, which is for gifts to be distributed through Lake Family Resource Center, still has many childrens' names that haven't had gifts purchased for them, she said. The tree has names of children and their ages.

The gifts have to be purchased by Friday, which is the deadline for collecting the toys, Madeson explained.

She said they also are collecting Toys for Tots, an effort which hasn't had any response yet, with the collection box empty. That has a Dec. 18 deadline.

The credit union, located at 963 11^th St., also is collecting gifts for eight children who are served by Redwood Children's Services. They have the age of each child and specific gifts they want. The business also has a shopping cart to collect food for an area food bank.

Press reports from around the country this week have noted that toy collection efforts like Toys for Tots have been hard hit. One Seattle Times report quotes a Toys for Tots representative as saying this is the worst Christmas for giving in the organization's 61-year history, with collections at about one-tenth of their normal amount.

The situation appears to be better for the Christmas Wish Tree at Clearlake City Hall.

Clearlake City Council member Judy Thein said the tree granted the wishes of 42 children last year, so this year they started out with 60. They've since added 59 children in a week's time.

“It is overwhelming how our community has opened up their hearts to these children,” she said.

Thein said that people from throughout the community are coming into City Hall to pick from the tree a child's ornament, which includes the child's ID number, whether they're a boy or girl, their age and wish. The wrapped gifts and the ornament tag are then returned to City Hall and left with City Clerk Melissa Swanson.

As of Monday, Thein said the effort has collected $867 to help grant the wishes of needy local children. Of that amount, $467 alone came from passing the hat at the Thursday morning Judge's Breakfast, where Thein shared information about the wish tree with the group. Another $200 came from Wal-Mart, and the remaining $200 from the community at large.

Thein said the Clearlake Christmas Wish Tree will continue until this Friday, Dec. 12. “The more people who continue to support our Wish Tree will allow us the opportunity to grant more wishes for our children,” she said.

The idea for the wish tree, said Thein, was inspired by her late daughter Kellie, who was a social worker and advocate for disadvantaged children. “Each Christmas she dedicated herself to helping insure that these children had an opportunity to feel the joy of the season.”

Thein credited city staff with going above and beyond to help make wishes come true for local children. “They are volunteering their own time to make ornaments, shopping for gifts along with gift wrapping. We are even going to have a gift wrapping party on Saturday where staff will be volunteering their time. This is truly a joint effort of many.”

To help the Mendo-Lake Credit Union toy collection effort, stop by or call 263-0162 for more information.

In the south county, toys can be delivered to Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive, or call City Clerk Melissa Swanson, 994-8201, extension 106.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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