LISBON – The Town of Lisbon is collaborating with Catholic Charities Maine Family Child Care on the local Christmas project, the Lisbon Giving Tree, for the 20th year.

Since it started serving a handful of families in 1983, the annual event has become an institution in most local churches and the two town libraries. Lisbon High School and the Town Office put up a tree.

Now, shoppers find Giving Trees in almost every mall. But the Lisbon Giving Tree was one of the first. Every year it serves hundreds of needy elderly and children, with a few parents included. At least 80 percent of the recipients are young children.

The referrals come from various social service agencies that serve residents of Lisbon, Durham, Sabattus and Bowdoin, but mostly, they come from the four town offices. Families that are strapped can go to their town office to apply.

All the gift tags on the trees are coded and the names are kept confidential, although those coming through the Lisbon Town Office sign a waiver of confidentiality in case a family is on the list twice. That rarely happens.

Special gift tags show a code, the age and sex of the child, and the gift requested. Sometimes, there is a size and a color listed. All someone needs to do is to choose the tag and return the corresponding gift, wrapped in most cases, with the original tag attached, to the original tree. The coded tags will be replaced with a gift tag from Santa and delivered by the agency or town office who referred the family originally.

Angel tags are hung on each tree to cover tags still hanging near the due date each year. They ask for a cash donation. Then volunteers go shopping.

Carolyn Davis said, “Somehow it always works out at the end. We’ve had years with 60 tags left on the trees at the end of the project; some years there are only a few. But, the good people of the Lisbon area always come through. We make sure all the needs are met. And, that is a great feeling. The project captures the true meaning of Christmas.”

The sorting process will take place on Sunday, Dec. 14, at the Lisbon Falls Community Library by volunteers who often work on the project year to year. The process is coordinated by Davis and Judy Goddard.

The gifts are delivered throughout the week. Anyone wanting to volunteer should contact Davis at Catholic Charities Maine Family Child Care, 784-0157, or Goddard at the Lisbon Town Office, 353-3000, extension 124.