Giving trees a part of Christmas charity at parishes

Volunteers pack gifts on Dec. 3, 2023 donated through the giving tree drive at St. Gilbert Parish in Grayslake. It was the 50th annual giving tree gift drive for those in need. Gifts go to Catholic Charities in Lake County. Gift cards totally over $7,000 would be distributed to the parish's St. Vincent de Paul ministry, the local PADS program and St. Benedict the African Parish in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Michal Taradys and Brandon Rodriguez carry gifts to the sorting room from the narthex of the church at St. Gilbert Church in Grayslake on Dec. 2, 2023. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Young volunteers pick up gifts from the narthex. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Aidan Bechard receives gifts to transport to the sorting room. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Volunteers sort gifts. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Margaret Hilliard, who started the giving tree program 50 years ago, accepts a gift from a volunteer. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Volunteers sort gifts. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Heidi Metz matches gifts with requests. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Volunteers match gifts with requests. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

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