What many see as a tag on a branch is really a holiday lifeline, connecting families in need with neighbors eager to give.

One tree sponsored by the Salvation Army of Escanaba and Tri-County Safe Harbor sits in the Delta Plaza Mall, adorned with each organization’s gift tags. This year, Tri-County Safe Harbor is collecting gifts for 79 children and teens from 17 families who are clients of the organization.

While many of the gift trees in the area are referred to as Angel Trees, the Angel Tree program is trademarked and specific to Walmart’s partnership with the Salvation Army. Hence, the Delta Plaza Mall’s tree does not technically qualify as an “angel tree,” according to Capt. Doug Winters of the Salvation Army of Escanaba.

“We’ve had (the gift tree in the Delta Plaza Mall) for at least five years, but I think it’s gone back decades,” Winters said. “Walmart’s is a national program, so that’s going on across the entire U.S. That’s been going for decades as well.”

Tri-County Safe Harbor's staff have created 79 tags for their gift tree this year, which is in the Delta Plaza Mall in Escanaba. (Sophie Vogelmann | Daily Press)

Families from Delta and Schoolcraft counties registered with the Salvation Army of Escanaba on Wednesday and Thursday will be able to walk through their “toy shop” at 3001 Fifth Ave. S. and pick which gifts they want for their children. To be ready, Salvation Army of Escanaba must receive toy donations by Monday.

On Saturday, Dec. 20, families from Schoolcraft County can either travel to the toy shop in Escanaba or choose to have gifts delivered. The organization is also looking for monetary donations to help cover tags that are not chosen.

“We just want to make sure that every family is taken care of and that the lack of gifts is not a problem for any of the families that we would serve,” Winters said.

The Salvation Army partners with Walmart nationwide to host their Angel Tree program, and one Angel Tree can be found in Escanaba’s Walmart. More information on the Angel Tree program can be found at https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/walmart-angel-tree/ or https://www.walmart.com/registry/RR/3802f78d-0687-49ed-81eb-357ded3454fa.

Liz Reed, Tri-County Safe Harbor’s executive director, said their organization has partnered with the Delta Plaza Mall on their gift tree for at least 10 years now.

“Participating in the (Gift) Tree program, no matter if you’re doing it for Tri-County Safe Harbor or the Salvation Army or the various other organizations in the community that are doing this great work, it’s very heartwarming. It gets you in the holiday spirit,” Reed said.

Staff at Tri-County Safe Harbor reach out to clients who then can provide their children’s wishes and needs, from newborns to age 18, for the gift tree. Participants provide the necessary information for the tags that then go onto the tree at the Delta Plaza Mall.

Most gift tree tags from various organizations contain information about the family’s children, such as their gender, age, clothing sizes, wish lists and interests. Some children request specific items, like clothes with pop-culture characters on them, while others request more general items such as coloring supplies.

“We’re talking about kids who might be impoverished who, if people didn’t pick (children) from the tree, (kids) might go without something for the holidays,” Reed said.

There are various other companies and organizations in the area who create their own gift trees, like Bay Bank.

Reed began volunteering at Tri-County Safe Harbor more than 20 years ago but stepped into her new position as executive director in October.

“The staff are very passionate. There’s so much need in the community, and I’m happy to be part of an organization that is doing wonderful things for survivors,” Reed said.

Tri-County Safe Harbor is collecting tags and new, unwrapped gifts until Monday as well. Tags with their assigned gifts can be dropped into the shopping cart designated for Tri-County Safe Harbor at the Delta Plaza Mall, or items can be brought directly to the shelter at 905 First Ave. S.

Gifts purchased for the Salvation Army’s gift tags can be dropped into their shopping cart in the Delta Plaza Mall as well.

Reed said the organization is grateful for the continuous donations and financial assistance provided to the shelter. The organization also posts items they need the most each month on Facebook — mostly non-perishable food, household items, etc. Donations can be dropped off at the center, 905 First Ave. S., and financial contributions can be mailed to that address.