Every holiday season for more than 20 years, Union County Sheriff’s Officers have planted their “Tree of Hope” seeking donations of toys for needy children throughout the county.
The “Tree of Hope” started in 1997 when officers encountered children in the courts who were going to experience a less than happy holiday season. The children were homeless or living in shelters, were victims of domestic violence, or medically fragile. Their parents or guardians did not have the financial ability to provide holiday gifts.
Every year since the “Tree of Hope” committee has erected a tree in the Union County Courthouse featuring ornaments with a wish for a particular gift for each child.
This year, the “Tree of Hope” has created registries through Amazon and Walmart that contain toys the children have requested.
Those wishing to donate only have to click on the registry, scroll through the list and select a toy they would like to give to a child.
Toys can be bought online and mailed to the Sheriff’s Office directly (the mailing address is automatically built into the registries) without a visit to a store.
All donations of toys are welcome.
Monetary donations that help provide additional gifts are also welcome. Payments may be made through Venmo, or by check. Please make checks payable to the Tree of Hope.
The registry information is as follows:
Amazon registry: UCSO Tree of Hope
(click on the Baby Registry option)
Walmart registry: UCSO Tree of Hope
(click on Walmart services, then click on Events Registry).
Venmo: UCSO Tree of Hope@UCSOTreeofHope
The UCSO Tree of Hope is a non-profit organization that collects new toys and distributes them to children (newborns to age 17) who live in Union County. The children who receive these toys are either homeless, in foster care, or bad financial situations. The officers distribute toys to more than 350 children every year.
Monetary contributions (tax-deductible) and toys can be sent to:
Union County Sheriff’s Officers Tree of Hope, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth, NJ 07207.
For more information, call the “Tree of Hope” hotline at 908-629-2158.