Host a Giving Tree

You provide the space. We’ll help provide the rest.

What is a Giving Tree?

This holiday season, Food For Thought is placing Giving Trees throughout the Treasure Valley to help provide food, Christmas gifts, warm clothing, hygiene essentials, and snacks to students and families in the Caldwell School District, where poverty affects 8 out of every 10 children.

We’re looking for businesses, churches, schools, neighborhoods, and community organizations willing to help us bring the campaign to their corner of the community.

A Giving Tree connects members of your organization or community directly with specific needs identified through our holiday campaign.

Instead of simply asking for general donations, Giving Trees allow donors to choose something tangible they can provide—from fulfilling a child’s Christmas wish to purchasing a winter coat or helping provide food for a family over Christmas break.

Your Giving Tree can be physical or virtual, depending on what works best for your organization.

  • Physical Giving Trees

Your organization provides and decorates a tree or designated Giving Tree display. Food For Thought provides the Giving Tree tags, campaign information, instructions, and resources you need to participate.

Members of your community select a tag, purchase the requested item, and return their donation according to the instructions provided.

  • Virtual Giving Trees

Don't have room for a physical tree? You can still participate.

A Virtual Giving Tree allows employees, members, families, or customers to select needs digitally. Once an item is claimed, it is removed from availability, helping prevent duplicate purchases.

Virtual trees are a great option for remote workplaces, large organizations, or groups that want to share the campaign beyond a single physical location.

Important 2026 Dates

We want Giving Tree hosts established early so we have enough time to match community partners with the needs identified by students.

October 14 — School administrators launch student needs survey.
November 1–6 — Giving Trees launch throughout the Treasure Valley
December 9 — All Giving Tree donations due to Food For Thought
December 11–12 — Hygiene bags, snack backpacks, and family food boxes assembled (if not previously assembled by Giving Tree hosts).
December 16 — One Christmas Wish Event, Caldwell Schools.

Interested in hosting?

Please submit your Host Request Form as soon as possible, no later than October 15th.

Submitting a request does not mean you have to figure everything out beforehand. Tell us a little about your organization, and we can help determine which Giving Tree theme and format will work best for you.

Ready to Host a Giving Tree?

You already have the people! We’ll help you bring the opportunity to give directly to them.

Complete the form below to tell us about your business, church, school, organization, or community group. Once we receive your request, Food For Thought will contact you to discuss availability, Giving Tree themes, and next steps.