Story and photo by Doug Petrowski

For Mountlake Terrace residents interested in sharing some holiday cheer and helping needy families, there are a pair of giving trees programs to participate in.

The Mountlake Terrace Recreation and Parks Department Youth Programs, in partnership with Pioneer Counseling Services, is conducting a giving tree program to assist a couple local families in need. Between now and Monday, Dec. 10, gifts are being collected at the Mountlake Terrace Recreation Pavilion. Those wishing to contribute are being asked to select one of 36 gift tags from the Giving Tree in the Pavilion’s lobby, which provides gift suggestions and instructions on how to participate in the program.

This is the ninth year that local families have been adopted by the city’s recreation and park department youth programs.

For the second year Mountlake Terrace High School is working with Holly House to collect gifts for needy children in the Edmonds School District. The school’s winter giving tree, located near the front entrance of the high school, has leaves for the taking listing specific gifts desired. Unwrapped gifts are being collected at the MTHS Counseling Center until Dec. 10.

More information on the MTHS winter giving tree program can be found at here.