FORE! A Good Cause: Giving Tree Outing Planned for May

The volunteers behind the Anchor Bay Giving Tree nurture the program all yearlong.

You may hear about the organization the most in connection with its or its holiday drive to collect food, clothing and toys for needy families and children. But they're always behind the scenes.

"We're Santa and Santa's elves," said Sherry Lawfield, one of the committee members. "It's about taking care of the kids in the community." And as any parent can tell you, family and kids don't take days off.

Lawfield and fellow committee member Geri Kelly says it went from a small police association project that helped six families to a program that helps hundreds, even thousands. In 2010 alone nearly 60 area families were helped. Through the years, more than 1,700 kids and more than 600 famlies have been assisted.

The Giving Tree program was born in 1999. Lawfield says some Girl Scouts wanted to do a community service project to earn badges, so she contacted the New Baltimore police chief about Adopt-A-Family.

The New Baltimore Police Officers Association (who still work with Giving Tree) handed them the program. It snowballed from there. In fact, two of the scouts— Stacy Beckman and Samantha Hudson—stuck with the program and serve on the committee.

The need, "it grows every year," Kelly said. And so the committee keeps plugging away.

A relatively new development is the golf outing, now back for its second year. Lawfield and Kelly wanted one big event, with larger impact. Kelly, who has chaired golf outings in the past, suggested the Giving Tree think greens. With her experience it was a natural choice.

They decided on a May outing—this year it's May 7—at Salt River. They plan it early in the golf season, when "people are itching to get out," Kelly added.

Now, with the date and the location set, they're busy getting the word out to lure attendees. Sponsors, prizes and donations are all needed, too. So far they've got some cool items lined up, including Jim Riehl's Friendly Auto Group being very friendly by donating a Cadillac as one of the hole-in-one prizes. (Start practicing your swing now!)

It's good fun for serious and casual golfers alike, Kelly adds, full of golf, contests, food, drink and prizes, that does a world of good for children and families in the Anchor Bay communities.

"One hundred percent of the money goes to families and children," Lawfield said. The money collected is used to buy food and other necessities for families, winter clothing for children and toys for them, too.

Kelly and Lawfield said they're always amazed by the requests they get. "Kids ask for clothes because it's what they need," Lawfield said. They have to always remind families to submit a wish list and a want list. That way kids get what they need for warmth and nourishment, but they also receive a little childhood joy through toys.

Much of that comes through community generosity participation. Police and schools field inquiries, and the officers do background checks to weed out scammers. Then the program sets up giving trees throughout the city and township, where people can pick a card off the tree and return it with the requested item.

Any cards that don't get plucked, the committee takes donations and shops so no one is left out. Lawfield and Kelly said that many area charities consult with one another to make sure as many people get helped as possible, and if there's a really serious problem—medical issues, the breadwinner loses her/her job or there's a fire, for example—they'll unite to give the afflicted family added support.

But now it's planning time, for a golf outing that makes Christmas merrier for so many.

"It's a good time for a good cause," Kelly said.

If you would like to help or want more information, please e-mail anchorbaycommunitygivingtree@gmail.com or visit the New Baltimore Police Officers Association online.