Giving Tree

Collecting donations for the families of Christmas Program at MCH

Above: Christmas Program collects donations of brand new toys, books, games, clothes, and winter essentials throughout the year and are distributes them to families who are facing financial hardship during the holiday season.

What is Giving Tree?

Giving Tree is a three-month campaign leading up to the holiday season in which local businesses or organizations generously volunteer to support Christmas Program at Maine Children’s Home (MCH) in one or more of the following ways:

1. Hosting a Giving Tree display

A Giving Tree is a display decorated with “Giving Tree Tags” — paper tags inscribed with specific gift requests from children whose families receive gifts from Christmas Program during the holiday season.

Businesses generously host Giving Tree displays in their lobbies and/or employee breakrooms, offering anyone who sees the Giving Tree display an opportunity to take a Giving Tree Tag. Anyone who takes a Giving Tree Tag gets to purchase the gift request on the tag and drops the gift off at a Giving Tree donation collection spot (locations are listed below) or a the MCH campus (more details are below).

2. Holding a toy drive

Businesses can organize a toy drive through which they encourage their employees and customers to donate items that children are requesting this year on Christmas Program’s Urgent Needs List.
 

3. Becoming a donation collection spot

Businesses can be a designated donation collection location for donors to drop-off donations of items on Christmas Program’s Urgent Needs List.
 

4. Signing up to do all of the above!

Christmas Program staff collect all of the donated gifts from businesses and organizations collecting donations, and distribute those donations to the families who signed up for holiday assistance.

Sign up to participate in the Giving Tree campaign

If you and your business would like to host a Giving Tree display, hold a toy drive, become a donation collection spot, or all of the above, please contact Amanda Simmons for more information.

Where can Giving Tree Displays be found this year?

This giving season, displays of Giving Trees Tags — paper tags inscribed with specific gift requests from children — can be found at the following locations in Maine:

Connected Credit Union (2 locations)
85 Civic Center Dr, Augusta
12 Monument St, Winslow

Damon's Beverage (2 locations)
75 Bangor St, Augusta
6 Jefferson St, Waterville

Holy Cannoli
70 Main St, Waterville

Traverse Coffee Co
140 Water St, Hallowell

WatervilleCreates! & Waterville Opera House
1 Common St, Waterville

Anyone who takes a Giving Tree Tag gets to purchase the gift request on the tag and drops the gift off at a Giving Tree donation collection spot (locations are listed below) or a the MCH campus (more details are below).

Where are Giving Tree donation collection spots?

Anyone making a donation of a brand new items to Christmas Program, whether it’s from a Giving Tree Tag or not, can drop off their donation at the following business locations:

Bar Harbor Bank & Trust
148 Bath Rd. Brunswick

Mainely Tubs
415 Payne Rd, Scarborough

Mattress Firm
365 Maine Mall road, South Portland

Mattress Firm
200 Running Hill road, South Portland

Mattress Firm
550 Gallery Blvd, Scarborough

Mattress Firm
580 Alfred Street, Biddeford

Mattress Firm
210 Civic Center Drive, Augusta

Mattress Firm
56 Topsham Fair Mall Road, Topsham

Mattress Firm
11 Thomaston Commons Way, Thomaston

Mattress Firm
51 Mount Auburn Ave, Auburn

Mattress Firm
878 Stillwater Ave, Bangor

Mattress Firm
208 High Street, Ellsworth

Mattress Firm
1500 White Mountain Highway, North Conway New Hampshire 

The Mix
12 Shuman Avenue, #12 Lee Farm Mall, Augusta

The Mix
295 Kennedy Memorial Dr, Penny Hill Park, Waterville

People's Salon & Spa
18 Temple St, Waterville

Traverse Coffee Co
140 Water St, Hallowell

WatervilleCreates! & Waterville Opera House
1 Common St, Waterville

Donations can also be dropped off at the Maine Children’s Home (MCH) campus in Waterville. The "Donation Drop-Off Point" is the basement door on the right side of the Evergreen Building (the 2nd building on the right after entering the MCH campus at 93 Silver Street in Waterville). Donors can drive around the back side of the Evergreen Building to access the Donation Drop-Off Point. Donations can be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. from Monday through Friday. Those who drop off donations are asked to please fill out a donation slip to leave with their donation bag or box, and to label their donation with “ATTN: Christmas Program.”  

Thank you to all the businesses and organizations who have volunteered to support Christmas Program this year!

The following businesses and organizations are participating in the Giving Tree campaign this year with Giving Tree displays in their employee break rooms or their own toy drives. Thank you!

Charlies Honda

Chateau Cushnoc

Crooker Construction, LLC

Elanco

Foley's Fitness Center, LLC

Four Seasons Family Practice

JCPenney in Waterville

Kleinfelder

Maine Molecular Quality Controls Inc

NEUCO

Northern Light Inland Hospital

Pleasant Street United Methodist Church

Reform Physical Therapy

TNT Dance Studio

UPS

About Christmas Program

Christmas Program at Maine Children’s Home (MCH) is the only one of its kind that provides brand new toys, books, games, warm clothing, and winter essentials to 1,100 Maine children whose families are facing financial hardship during the holiday season. It’s a year-round effort that would be impossible without generous donations, volunteers, and community support.