Sioux Falls, SD – On Friday morning, members of McCrossan Boys Ranch rolled up their sleeves to decorate a series of “Trees of Hope” placed at several downtown retailers. The trees, each bearing a tag with a boy’s name and suggested gift ideas, are a community‑wide effort to provide Christmas presents for the ranch’s residents.
Community locations host the holiday fundraiser
The decorated trees can be found at Scheels on 41st Street, Hy‑Vee on Minnesota Avenue, Runnings on East 10th Street, and at both Chick‑fil‑A restaurants in the city. Shoppers who stop by can choose a tag, read the boy’s wish list, and purchase a present or clothing item to help make the season brighter for a child who has endured family conflict.
Students and staff stress the importance of community support
“It’s important for a lot of stuff, and it’s good that they can be in the community to help with community service and, like, get people to grow up to be a person rather than somebody that just does a bunch of random stuff,” said Julian S., a student at the ranch. “It’s so important for them to see that there are people outside of the ranch that are thinking of them and caring for them. Obviously, they have their support system there at the ranch. But people that are just walking by a tree and get to pick up their tag and say I want to support this boy, means so much to them,” added Assistant Director of Development Jacinda Biberdorf.
How the Trees of Hope work
Each tree displays cards that list the names of the boys staying at McCrossan and suggest several gift and clothing ideas. Donors can purchase items directly or give cash contributions that the ranch will use to buy the requested items. The program not only supplies holiday gifts but also reinforces the ranch’s mission to provide a stable, nurturing environment for boys who have experienced family turmoil.
Supporting a tradition of giving
The Trees of Hope initiative has become an annual tradition in Sioux Falls, drawing participation from local businesses, churches, and families. By placing the trees in high‑traffic retail locations, the ranch makes it easy for anyone to get involved, turning a simple shopping trip into an act of generosity.
Looking ahead
McCrossan Boys Ranch hopes the holiday drive will inspire continued community involvement throughout the year. The organization plans to expand the program to additional locations next season, further strengthening the bond between the ranch and the broader Sioux Falls community.
Original reporting: Dakota News Now KSFY Sioux Falls (local) — read the source article.
