A family tradition continues this year with the KVC Angel Tree set up in the Bank of Gas.
There, donors can find ornaments affixed with the names and wish lists of youngsters within KVCs foster care system.
To participate, simply grab an ornament as a guide to purchase gifts for a youngster in need for Christmas.
The project is a special one for the Menzie family, which began its participation 16 years ago in honor of the late Chuck and Shirley Menzie.
Their children, Debi, Tomi, Pat and Shelly, started a memorial in their parents names, with the purpose of benefiting children in need. (Chuck was adopted as a young child.)
Since then, the Menzie Memorial has supported a number of projects, including KVC Health Systems, Inc., of Iola, the Wichita Childrens Home and Dr. Rosens Cancer Kids.
And each year, the memorial funds gifts for 10 foster children through the Angel Tree campaign.
We started with choosing one angel for each of Mom and Dads children and children, explained Tomi.
As the number of descendants continued to grow, the family agreed to cap the number at 10.
To replenish the memorial, the Menzies host a garage sale each year in Wichita.
EACH PERSON who retrieves a tag also will be given a bag in which the unwrapped gifts can be placed. The tag should be taped to the bag, organizers said.
Donors arent required to spend a certain amount, organizers said.
Gifts should be returned to the bank by Dec. 14.
