6th Annual Giving Tree at Susan’s Secret Garden.

The Giving Tree at Susan’s Secret Garden is decorated and ready for customers to choose a “wish” from a child in our area and provide that item.  For the past 6 years Susan has worked with a social worker to find children in Sturbridge and surrounding towns who won’t have a visit from Santa without the help of the very generous people who visit Susan’s Secret Garden. 

Last year the Giving Tree project collected over 400 gifts of clothing, toys and gift cards for groceries.  The results were that 18 households were filled with squeals of joy on Christmas morning, 35 children didn’t wonder why Santa didn’t stop at their house, and 21 parents now see the world as a kinder place where strangers reach out and show compassion.

Since starting the Giving Tree project everyone at Susan’s Secret Garden has had a front row seat to watch miracles happen.  The people who come back year after year to help are so excited to be part of the project that they begin asking in August if the children’s wishes are ready.

Susan receives letters and cards from the families asking her to thank the “angels” and “elves” that helped their children.

This year the Giving Tree has 50 children counting on compassionate strangers to make the magic happen.  Susan is asking that angels and elves stop by when they have a minute and read some of the wishes on the tree.  Some requests are as simple as a doll, a truck or just a pair of mittens.

Gifts need to be returned to Susan’s Secret Garden by December 8th in order to have time to organize and deliver gifts to the families.

Wow! For a small shelter, in a small town, this is quite a feat! Second Chance Animal Shelter is ranked 16 out of 20 finalists. Visits will be made to all 20 finalists and hopefully all will receive some form of financial support. News will be updated regularly at the shelter’s website, as well as www.zootoo.com.

Are you an animal lover like me? Here’s a chance to make a difference for homeless animals - and the best part is that it won’t cost you a dime. Second Chance Animal Shelter is the only Massachusetts shelter in the top 20 in a national contest for a $1 million makeover from Zootoo.com. There are only days left to make your vote count. The contest ends on March 31^st!

They need community support to win this makeover. All you need to do to register your support is to go on their website at www.secondchanceanimals.org and click on the makeover registration. Or you can go directly to zootoo.com and select Second Chance Animal Shelter. Be sure to use their zip code of 01515.

Let’s show them that we care!