Holiday wish tree returns

SPARTA-For over 20 years the Holiday Wish Tree in the Sparta Public Library has been making holidays happier for children in Sussex County. The Junior Woman's Club of Sparta presents the tree to the community as a vehicle through which gifts can be collected for children in need. This year, the tree will be displayed from Nov. 22 through Dec. 15. In the program, local residents choose a handmade ornament from the tree. Each ornament is tagged with the age and gender of a child. Residents donate a new, unwrapped gift, place the tag on the gift and return it to the tree. The Junior Woman's Club delivers these gifts to the Division of Youth and Family Services throughout the holiday season. Gifts are distributed by DYFS to families based on need. Our community has been particularly helpful in donating gifts to teenagers spending their holidays in a group home without their families. For some, it is the only gift they will receive. The club estimates that there are over 400 children who will benefit from this program. For more information about program or the Junior Woman's Club of Sparta, call (973) 300