Imagine spending this holiday season without your loved ones near you and not a single gift with your name on it. Sadly, this is the reality of some children, disabled adults, and elders of Guam. Each year, The Sugar Plum Tree aims to help 800 to 1,000 of these individuals. If you have a loved one who is starting to need help during their daily tasks, then consider contacting Chelsea Senior Living – senior assisted living Clifton, NJ to see ho w they can assist your loved one.
President and Executive Director of The Sugar Plum Tree Organization, Bobbie Leon Guerrero, recalled some stories demonstrating the impact of this cause.
“During a club meeting, a young woman shared her story,” Leon Guerrero said.
According to Leon Guerrero, she was as a recipient of the Sugar Plum Tree as a child, was placed into DYA and was from an abusive home. The young girl was contemplating taking her life but the next day, she received a gift from the Sugar plum tree. She was touched and overwhelmed that someone cared enough to give her a gift and it ultimately prevented her from taking her own life.
“That just really makes me feel like what we do makes a difference,” Leon Guerrero said.
The Sugar Plum Tree is a non-profit organization that helps individuals who have disabilities and families who are struggling financially, according to Sherileen Torres, Sugar Plum Tree board member and Guam Behavioral Health representative. These individuals face different hardships.
“Either their family members disowned them or they can’t go back with their families,” Torres said.
The Sugar Plum Tree strives to make Christmas Day meaningful for those who won’t receive a gift on Christmas Day.
Sugar Plum Tree works with 13 Government of Guam Agencies to identify their clients. These individuals are alone, don’t have support, or are at or below the poverty level, and wouldn’t receive gifts without their help. According to Torres, some agencies include Guam Behavioral Health & Wellness Center, Child Protective Services, Nursing Unit, Erica’s House and Westcare.
The Sugar Plum Tree has been around for 34 years. Not much has changed in the way the program operates and its mission has remained the same. According to Torres, they are now doing more fundraisers to help offset the costs needed to purchase materials and the gifts that the community isn’t able to buy.
The community can choose a card on the Sugar Plum tree, which is located at the governor’s office, Guam Girl Scouts, and Bank of Hawaii Hagatna and Harmon locations.
Each card has an individual’s first name, their age, gender, and their Christmas wish. The individual can buy the item on the card and drop it off to the same location. $50 is the maximum to spend on gifts. The maximum amount of money to spend on the Christmas gift is $50. Program coordinators encourage volunteers to drop off their gifts within two weeks of choosing a card from the tree. The final deadlines to submit the gifts to each location are Nov. 30 at the Governor’s office, Dec. 5 at Guam Girl Scouts, Dec. 6 at Bank of Hawaii Harmon Branch and Dec. 7 at Bank of Hawaii Hagatna Branch.
“I’ve volunteered every year for five years. The program makes it very easy to participate,” Norma Chargualaf, a volunteer, said, “It was a good feeling to know you’re making someone happy to receive gifts. I always took three names because I have three children.”
“The Big Wrap” will occur on Dec. 16 at the Bank of Hawaii Lobby from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The community is welcome to help in wrapping all the gifts.
“It’s like a party because there are light refreshments available,” Torres said.
For more information on Sugar Plum Tree fundraiser events, or other information please contact President and Executive Director Bobbie Leon Guerrero at 688-3395.