The USDA Rural Development Center in Yankton, South Dakota is an active participant in the Yankton Mall’s Christmas Tree Gift –Away. This is the second year they have donated a tree decorated with a USDA theme and kid friendly ornaments.
Business and individuals have donated 43 decorated Christmas trees on display at the mall, with votes for the best tree made through donated canned goods for the Yankton Contact Center. Voting for the best tree was open through December 11, 2011. With the assistance of the Contact Center, the trees are donated to needy families in the area.
The Yankton Mall and Rita’s Purse-O-Nalities are very pleased this season with the tree participation and extremely pleased with the amount of food donated as votes for best tree. The community has really outdone themselves!
“This is the second year I have coordinated this great project for the USDA Service Center”, said Rural Development Manager Sherrie Lewis. “It warms a person’s heart to be part of placing a Christmas tree in a home of one of the 43 families. These families would not be able to afford a decorated tree without the generosity of the people of Yankton and surrounding communities. It truly is better to give than receive.”