Donors needed for kids

Leaders from a local credit union are celebrating 10 years of a Christmas Wishes Gift-Giving program.

Residents are being asked to help the credit union in this effort.

In the past decade, the program has provided about 5,000 low-income students at Lincoln Elementary, a Salt Lake inner-city school, with Christmas presents. The school has a high number of immigrant students as well as students from homeless shelters.

People in the community are being asked to help by picking up paper ornaments made by each child that describe a special want and need. The ornaments are hanging on Christmas trees in the lobbies of Utah Central Credit Union branches across the Wasatch Front.

Utah residents and UCCU members who want to fulfill these special wishes can purchase the child's requested gifts and return them to a UCCU branch by Dec. 12. Cash donations are also accepted.

Needs can range from socks, shoes and boots, to toothpaste, blankets, pillows, jackets and school supplies, even food.

Since the school accepts a large influx of immigrants from such countries as Somalia, South Africa, Burma, Myanmar, Burundi, South America and Tanzania, leaders say many of these children don't have clothing for Utah's winter conditions.

A few years ago, a student requested a bed and when it was delivered to the house, it was the only piece of furniture in the home.

Wants include items like a jewelry box, board games, electronic gadgets, as well as bikes, balls and helmets.

UCCU branch offices can be found at: Salt Lake, 25 E. 1700 South.; Herriman, 13218 S. 5600 West; Murray, 5338 S. College Drive; West Valley, 4090 S. 4800 West; West Jordan, 2089 W. 9000 South; Sandy: 7926 S. 1300 East.

For more information e-mail jkhassociates@ burgoyne.com.