The Prowler
'Tis the season to be jolly--especially when buying trees and gifts.
Instead of buying Christmas trees at anonymous lots or supermarkets, how about patronizing local, independent tree farmers? It's also an excuse for a fun family day trip into the Santa Cruz Mountains! Some of this cat's picks include GHJ Tree Farm, Sunset Tree Farm & Boutique and Castle Rock Tree Farm, all on Skyline Boulevard at 408.354.1401, 408.395.8667 and 408.867.9334, respectively; Black Road Tree Farm at 408.354.8472; and its neighbor Raccoon Gulch Tree Farm at 408.354.2555.
The Family Giving Tree is of a completely different kind. It's an 11-year-old Milpitas-based nonprofit that fulfills holiday wishes of thousands of needy children--and sometimes seniors and homeless people. The FGT recruits Bay Area businesses to host "giving trees," whose branches are covered with wish cards. People choose a card, buy and wrap the specific gift and bring the gift back to the tree. FGT volunteers later bring the gifts to a warehouse, where social service agency representatives convene to pick up gifts for their clients.
Venues in Los Gatos are Whole Foods Market, both Wells Fargo banks, Bank of the West, Mission Oaks Hospital Segue Software, SCM Microsystems and Hifn. Don't forget Saratoga: Bank of the West and Wells Fargo Bank, Alain Pinel Realtors, Kickfire Inc., Next Generation, HeadUp Early Learning Institute and St. Andrew's Church.
The FGT can always use more volunteers and hosts. Visit them at www.familygivingtree.org, or call 408.946.3111.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
