As a girl growing up in Victoria, I eagerly anticipated the Christmas season and the television movie The House Without a Christmas Tree based on the novel by Gail Rock. The premise of the story involves a young girl named Addie Mills who lived in a small rural community and won a Christmas tree at her school. She and her best friend created homemade decorations for it, and after a discussion with her father, Addie delivered the tree as a surprise gift from Santa Claus to a classmate whose family was struggling financially and could not afford to buy a Christmas tree. Addie’s father was touched by her generosity, and he brought another tree home for her. The final scene of the movie showed Addie being lifted by her father to place a beautiful, glittery star made by her mother on top of the tree.

I have never forgotten that movie, and the scene when Addie won the tree at her school reminds me of the Hays Area Children’s Center Christmas Tree Lane and Auction. Though the story was set in the 1940’s, the November 19, 2011, Christmas Tree Lane and Auction had a similar theme. Community businesses, friends, families, and HACC staff shared their time, talent, and treasure to support this holiday endeavor benefiting our programs and services for children and their families in Ellis and Rush Counties, much like Addie and her beautiful act of holiday kindness.

The generosity of our community is a gift that keeps on giving for Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Services, Healthy Start Home Visitor Program, Licensed Child Care, and Child Care Aware of Northwest Kansas. We at Hays Area Children’s Center are so grateful to all of you in our community for making this a memorable and special event to help those we serve. Gratitude truly is the memory of the heart. Thank you and best wishes to the people of Ellis and Rush Counties for a blessed Christmas season.

Sincerely,
Kelly O’Brien Koerner
Community Relations Coordinator
Hays Area Children’s Center