Santas Needed: Grab a kid’s wishlist & make it come true at local giving trees

Teacher Jocelyn Paris and Freebridge Brewery owner Steve Light are putting on their Santa Pants again this year, offering up huge opportunities for locals to make local children’s wishes come true this Christmas.

THE DALLES, Ore., Dec. 9, 2025 — A growing community effort is underway to make sure Chenowith Elementary students have what they need — and a little more joy — heading into the holidays, as Giving Trees return to several downtown locations.

Two trees are now up: one at Freebridge Brewing, 710 E. Second St., hosted for the second year by owners Steve and Lori Light, and another at Wines on Second, 316 E. Second St., organized by Matt Ensel. A third Giving Tree, arranged by the Salvation Army, is also on display at Brick City Games.

“There is a lot of need in our community,” said Jocelyn Paris, a K–5 educator at Chenowith Elementary who helped organize the effort. “We want to give some kids some joy back and tell them that you do matter in our community.”

Paris said the requests on the trees are striking in their simplicity. Children often ask for warm jackets, waterproof boots, books, coloring books or mittens — basics that are getting harder for many families to afford. “These requests are really humble,” she said. “They’re not asking for a lot.”

Some letters include notes that families are struggling to pay bills or need help with food or fuel. Before Thanksgiving, Paris counted 78 letters already hanging on the Freebridge tree and expects 50 or more additional requests as the season goes on.

Volunteer Josephine Colburn of The Dalles works on wish lists at the Chenowith Elementary Giving Tree at Freebridge Brewing shortly before Thanksgiving.

Paris credited Steve and Lori Light for their enthusiasm in helping host the tree again this year. “Steve is really jacked about this,” she said. Last year, community members noted the couple stepped in to help fill remaining needs for students still missing items before Christmas.

“It’s fun giving without expectation,” said Steve Light. “That’s the spirit of Christmas.”

While the wish lists are modest, Paris said donors are welcome to add something fun if they choose. “You can go rogue and buy a dollhouse or colored pencils,” she said. “Something fun.”

Once a letter is taken, purchased items can be returned to Freebridge Brewing by Dec. 18. The Gorge Roller Derby Team will wrap gifts on Dec. 19. Packages will then be delivered to Chenowith Elementary for pickup or taken directly to families as needed.

“I see the poverty every day,” Paris said. “The hardship, the challenge kids face. It’s not their fault. Everybody wants better for their child. They’re doing the best with what they have. This is a way to show these kids they matter.”