Tuesday is the last day to help local kids with the IMACA Wish Tree program. So far staff reports that they could use more help in their efforts to help others.

Times are tough for many in the Eastern Sierra these days. This could lead to more people who need help and less who can give help. IMACA staff reports that over 700 local kids are signed up to receive gifts from the wish tree program this year.

The way it works is that families in need sign up their children to receive a gift. Basic information about the child, age, gender, size and a gift idea, but no names, is put onto a Christmas tree ornament that is hung on a Wish Tree.

Anybody that wants to help a child out can pick one of these ornaments off of the Wish Trees that are placed in local businesses. Using the information on the ornament, the donor then buys a present and drops it off at IMACA. The deadline to buy gifts for kids on the wish trees had been December 15th, but with more gifts needed, the deadline has been extended until Tuesday, the 22nd.

You can pick an ornament off a Wish Tree at the Mountain Light Gallery, Studio 27, Value Sports, Independence Chamber of Commerce, the Inyo Register, and the IMACA office in Bishop. Discounted gifts can be purchased at JC Pennys, Value Sports, Dwaynes, Spellbinder Books, Bee Gees, and Wilsons Eastside Sports.