'Giving Tree' outreach for holidays starts Nov. 1 at Owens Community College

A community outreach program for the holidays, The Giving Tree, is about to be started by Owens Community College.

People are asked to give back to others through acts of kindness as determined by messages on designated leaves of The Giving Tree. The program runs Nov. 1 to 20.

Participants will choose a leaf on The Giving Tree for a community outreach assignment. Trees will be located in Founders Hall and the College Hall Atrium on the college’s Perrysburg Township campus on Oregon Road.

Red leaves will be the highest level of giving, orange leaves the second highest, and yellow leaves the lowest level. Each leaf will have a volunteer task, which will range from opening the door for someone to donating a toy item for Toys for Tots.

Nicole Buccalo, Owens Student Activities assistant, said community outreach tasks are to be dropped off in boxes adjacent to The Giving Tree locations, and then will delivered to the respective community organizations.

“I encourage local residents to make a difference through small acts of kindness and participate in The Giving Tree program,” she said.

Among the organizations participating are the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Ohio, Toys for Tots, Cherry Street Mission Ministries, The Cocoon Shelter, Missions International of America, the United States military, Owens Harvest Food Pantry, and the Wood County Humane Society.

For more information, call 567-661-2569 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2569.