Giving tree moves

A special Christmas tree, belonging to the teens of the Community Service Program Youth Shelter of Orange County, has sought new shelter this holiday season.

Left out in the cold from this year’s Winter Sawdust Festival where it can usually be seen with the other nonprofit trees donated by the organization, the tree found refuge at the Pure Light Candle Company in Laguna Canyon, just a few doors down from the Festival.

“We received a message from the Sawdust Festival that they were low on trees this year, and we weren’t able to reserve one,” said Carol Carlson, director of the Youth Shelter. “Fortunately, [Pure Light owner] Judy Kelly was kind enough to put up a tree for us in her shop.

“We’ve gotten many calls from our Laguna Beach donors who went to Sawdust looking for our tree, so we want to let them know where it is.”

Sawdust spokeswoman Cynthia Fung said that neither she nor Festival Executive Director Tom Klingenmeier were aware of the request for a tree.

“We would certainly have made arrangements for it to be on the grounds, should we have known,” Fung said. “There was probably a lack of communication because we are always happy to accommodate. We would have even purchased another tree if we had known.” The Winter Fantasy’s last weekend was Dec. 12 and 13.

Since the teens’ tradition of visiting the Festival and decorating their tree with homemade ornaments was not possible this year, Kelly took it upon herself to adorn it with decorative “wish list” tags, which name the various items the kids have asked for including gift cards, household and personal items, art supplies and groceries.

“The tree will remain in the store until Christmas, so people can visit it until then,” Carlson said.

The teens, who felt disappointed about not receiving day passes to Sawdust or being able to decorate their tree, decided to craft ornaments and give them to staff members at the shelter instead.

Carlson said this was an especially disappointing year not to be represented at the Festival, as CSP services have rapidly increased alongside the decline of funding sources, and this was a popular location for donations.

For more information, to receive a tour of the Shelter or to make a donation, call (949) 494-4311 or visit www.cspinc.org. Donations can also be left with Judy Kelly or mailed to CSP at 1821 E. Dyer Road, Suite 200, Santa Ana, CA 92705.

The Pure Light Candle Company is located at 821 Laguna Canyon Road. For information, call (949) 376-7200.