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Instill a Bit of Christmas Magic with Holiday Giving Program”

November 17, 2010 —Sturgeon Bay, WI---The needs of mature, homebound residents in Door County are significant, according to Ann Bennett, Executive Director of Neighbor-to-Neighbor Caregivers of Door County, a non-profit organization whose mission is to comfort and assist people experiencing problems arising from conditions or limitations that lead to a deterioration in their quality of life. Demand for Neighbor-to-Neighbor services is growing; last year, 959 clients were served, up from 606 clients the previous year. Many of these clients are mature residents in the area.

The Holiday Giving Program was originated by Baylake Bank’s Premier Club Coordinator Barbara Malzahn more than 13 years ago, and was created in part due to this continuing community need. Working in conjunction with Neighbor-to-Neighbor, the Door County Senior Center, and the Social Services Department, Baylake Bank volunteers team up with generous community contributors to provide gifts and personal care items to those in need.

This season, a Holiday Gift Tree will be displayed at Baylake Bank Conference Center beginning November 26, 2010. Members of the community are invited to select from the tree a number which represents an individual whose name remains anonymous. “Baylake Bank and Walmart provide the baskets, and by filling it with cheer – and some basic necessities like socks, toothpaste, and lotion – you can really make the holidays brighter for someone in our community,” said Malzahn.

“The people I refer to Barb for the Holiday Giving Program are lonely or isolated due to their physical health or because they have no family or community connections. This program instills in them the magic of Christmas and lets each of them know the community truly cares about them,” Bennett said.

The filled baskets are collected and delivered prior to Christmas by Malzahn and her elves. For more information about how to participate, please contact Barb at (920) 743-5551 ext. 1136.