Gifts donated at Gold Rush Coffee in Ione are taken to the Family Giving Tree warehouse where they are sorted, wrapped and distributed by volunteers. Last year the the Family Giving Tree program helped 66,000 low income children throughout California. Photo by: Courtesy to the Ledger Dispatch

Around the holidays it is important to focus on people who may need a little extra help to make the season bright. This time of year is about both giving and receiving - even if you only receive that warm feeling inside that you helped make someone happy.

The Family Giving Tree is a program that focuses on helping make sure that all children have the opportunity to experience Christmas, even if their family may not have the means to provide one for them.

One local business has joined the Family Giving Tree program by becoming a host and bringing this service to the children in Amador County. David and Ester Lee, owners of Gold Rush Coffee in Ione, have opened their business to this program to be able to help children and families who would otherwise go without a Christmas.

"We have been the corporate catering company for (the Family Giving Tree program) four years," David said. "Two years ago when we opened Gold Rush Coffee in Ione, we decided to become hosts to help out further."

The Family Giving Tree program began in 1990 as a San Jose State University Masters of Business Administration class project, according to its Web site, www.familygivingtree.org. Jennifer Cullenbine and Todd Yoshida were asked to "create a program that adds value to someone else's life." Together they created the Family Giving Tree with the hope of providing Christmas gifts to 300 children in East Palo Alto. Encouraged by the success of the first year, Cullenbine decided to continue the program.

Last year the program helped 66,000 low income children throughout California. "That is double the population of Amador County," David added.

Thousands of people in California are not able to obtain the basic necessities of life. The Family Giving Tree was established to help these individuals obtain warm clothing, bedding and household supplies, as well as important items for children such as car seats, educational supplies and toys, according to its Web site. The goal of The Family Giving Tree is to offer assistance to as many people as possible by creating a simple and effective way for anyone to enrich their own life by helping others.

The Lees first learned about the Family Giving Tree program from a friend at KTEH, a PBS station in San Jose, David said. For the last four years the Lees have set up a cafeteria for the volunteers at the warehouse.

"When we notified Jennifer at Family Giving Tree we were opening a cafe in Ione, we asked her how she felt about getting Family Giving Tree into Amador County. She was thrilled," David said. "Last year, we were able to get two local agencies signed up. We collected a total of 17 gifts for distribution in the warehouse and about $100 cash, and we brought back a total of 108 gifts for the children and adults of these two agencies in Amador County."

This year, David's goal is to get as many businesses signed up to become hosts for the Family Giving Tree program as possible. The process is very simple and can be done on the Family Giving Tree Web site, David said. Once a business is signed up, the number of gift cards requested are sent to the business. From there the cards are displayed on a tree or hung on a wall by the business for employees and customers to pick one or more cards, purchase a gift and return it to the host business. There is no charge to become a host for this program. From there gifts are taken to the Family Giving Tree warehouse where they are sorted, wrapped and distributed by volunteers.

"By becoming a host company for this program, you are helping people in the easiest way possible," David said. "All you have to do is display gift cards to help make sure that they have gifts on Christmas that they might not otherwise get."

For David, the best part of this program is "knowing that the very unfortunate are being helped. It's a feeling that cannot be explained."

Gift cards for the Family Giving Tree will be on display in Amador County at Gold Rush Coffee, 15 Main St., Ione, as soon as they arrive until Dec. 12.

To become a host company, visit www.familygivingtree.org and click on host companies.