Geneva History Center offers charity tree contest

While picking up baubles and trinkets on a Third Street holiday shopping jaunt, consider dropping a few bucks at the Geneva History Center's Giving Tree display.

The third annual program features Christmas trees decorated by 17 charities and social service agencies, and typically explain in a creative way, what the agencies do. Last year's winner, Provena Geneva Care Center, featured ornaments bearing photographs of its residents, crafted by the daughter of a resident. A food pantry once decorated its tree with empty food boxes and cans.

Visitors vote for their favorites with $1 ballots. In this election they are encouraged to stuff the ballot box, as the charities keep the money.

There is also a prize for the top vote-getter.

Participating organizations are the International Order of Good Templars; Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice; Geneva Park District Foundation; Geneva Community Chest; Marklund; Kiwanis Club of Geneva; Elderday Center; the National Alliance on Mental Illness DeKalb, Kane-South and Kendall Counties Inc.; the Salvation Army Joe K. Anderson Community Center; Geneva Lions Club; Association for Individual Development; Provena Geneva Care Center; Geneva Academic Foundation; Hearts of Hope; Geneva Mothers' Club; Salvation Army Golden Diners Geneva; and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

The center, at 113 S. Third St., is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. For admission details, visit genevahistorycenter.org.