Organizers of the Mancos Giving Tree program are looking for people to purchase items for participating families.

The Giving Tree campaign is a multiyear, anonymous, volunteer project that collects and distributes Christmas gifts to about 150 Mancos-area residents.

People apply for the program with items they need, and trees are placed around town with ornaments listing those items. People can pick an ornament off the tree and purchase an item for the Giving Tree.

The trees went up this week and are located at P&D Grocery, Zuma, Columbine bar, Mancos Public Library and Dolores State Bank, organizer Donna Watkins said. Once people have purchased items listed on the ornaments, they can drop them off, wrapped or unwrapped, at Coldwell Banker, Raven House Gallery, Artisans of Mancos, Columbine or at the Giving Tree headquarters, 515 West Grand Ave., Watkins said.

“As soon as the gifts start coming in, we’ll need people to help sort, wrap and deliver them,” she said.

People buying gifts must also be sure to return the ornament so the gifts can be sorted properly, Watkins said.

The deadline for people still wanting to apply for the program has been extended to December 10. Children under 22 and seniors over 70 are encouraged to apply, but no one will be turned away, Watkins said. Participants must live in the Mancos 81328 zip code or attend Mancos schools to be eligible.

People also are encouraged to donate gently used clothes, toys or books that they no longer need to the Giving Tree. Cash donations also are accepted and may be directed to Mancos Valley Resources, P.O. Box 204, Mancos, Colorado 81328.

“We encourage people to pick up an ornament or two,” Watkins said.

For more information, contact Watkins at 303-956-5656 or email her at donnawatkins.1021@gmail.com