Dayton Chronicle - Your Hometown News Source

DAYTON–Christmas is a time of giving, and this community, once again, has come forward in a big way to make a brighter holiday for the less fortunate in the area.

At Dingle's of Dayton, the floor around the Giving Tree is once again stuffed with gifts and packages, so many that they spill down the aisle of this quaint country store.

The Giving Tree is a local, grass-roots program with a simple process: word it put out through the schools and other channels, and families let it be known of their circumstances.

The list is compiled by volunteer coordinator Anndria Anderson, and the individual names are hung on The Giving Tree, located in the corner window of Dingle's.

In spite of the pandemic, this year the Giving Tree served 29 separate families and 72 children, ranging in age from newborn to high school, Anderson said.

Generous citizens stop by the store anytime after Thanksgiving and choose one or more of the families from the tree, then off they go, shopping for the children.

-Chronicle photo

The packages were piling up in the front window of Dingle's of Dayton, where Mindy Betzler, owner of Dingle's, contributes space and visibility for "The Giving Tree," a local, grass-roots effort that gives local people an opportunity to give to those in need a Merry Christmas. Mary Bly-Morgan of Dingles and volunteer Susan Close were busy arranging packages.

The number of donors is unknown since some take more than one family, Anderson, who has been coordinating the Giving Tree the past seven or eight years.

What is known is that Dayton and Columbia County residents have big, generous hearts. "It's kind of a weird year," Anderson said. "We definitely couldn't do it without the community coming together and donating. We're super thankful for them."

In light of COVID-19, this year gift recipients are being asked to spread the collection time over two days, Anderson said. "We're trying to be as responsible as possible and still get it done."

Those receiving gifts whose last name starts with A-M are to pick up on Thursday, 9:30 – 11 a.m. Families with last names beginning with N-Z are to pick up Friday, 9:30-11 a.m.

The project started several years ago with Dan and Rosy Nechodom and was located at the Country Cupboard Bakery. When the Nechodoms passed the baton to Anderson, and the bakery location was no longer available, Betzler and Mary Bly-Morgan of Dingle's of Dayton volunteered window space to provide a place for the tree.