For several years now, Emily’s Path has used the proceeds from its annual Holiday Treat Sale to purchase Christmas gifts for local children in need. The items we purchase are donated to the Marathon County Salvation Army for their “Toy Store.” This program was designed to help low-income families give their children a Christmas to remember. Each year, the program helps 400 Marathon County families provide gifts for their children to open Christmas morning. Emily’s Path works with the Salvation Army to give items that are most needed. Typically, this means gifts for infants and teenagers — two age groups for which they don’t receive as many donated items. This year, Emily’s Path donated $5,000 in toys, games, infant necessities, clothing, and other items to the Toy Store. Our donation included $1,000 worth of books, as their goal was to also allow each family to select a book for each child.

Watch below to see our volunteers put all of our purchases under the tree in 20 seconds.