When Sarah Rogers children were younger, they were featured on a bell.

As a result, through the local Wishing Tree program, Rogers opened her door on Christmas to members of the U.S. Army National Guard as brand new bikes were delivered to fulfill her childrens Christmas list.

Now, things are different for the Knappa family.

And in an effort to give back, Rogers recently hosted two holiday bazaars where 100 percent of the vendor fees more than $800 went to the program to help make other wishes come true for families in need.

There was a time when my kids were on a bell, she said. And weve just been so blessed.

Behind the program is Barb Roberts, and her husband Steve, who have chaired it for the last 20 years.

Ive seen the kids who we helped who now have kids of their own, she said. Its nice to see it come full circle. And it really makes everyone stop and be thankful for what they have. Its something that really puts everyone into the Christmas spirit. To me, this is what its all about.

Santas workshop

The Clatsop County Fairgrounds, a site donated free to the program for all 30 years, looks a little like Santas workshop during December. Table after table will soon be lined with toys that are organized by numbers each number representing a child.

So far, more than 700 children in the city of Astoria are asking for the simplest of Christmas wishes a Barbie, a toy car, a winter coat, or a nice pair of shoes. One wish listed a pillow.

Some of the requests just break your heart, Roberts said.

Others, like teenagers that have practically grown up in the program, ask for clothing, socks and grooming supplies.

And Roberts makes sure everyones wishes are met.

We try our hardest, she said.

Rogers commented of Roberts, Shes amazing. She works so hard just to organize it and lots of families have been blessed because of her generosity.

Roberts is a little like Santa herself. Shes never had children, and has made the program into her family. For the month of December it is not unusual to see her sleeping in theworkshop. She brings her motor-home to the fairgrounds so she wont waste a minute away from the project.

After all, theres a lot of work to be done.

How it works

The wishes come in through the help of state agencies, which mail applications to families they know are in need. Because of privacy laws, they arent sure how much longer they can help distribute the applications, something that could cost the programs hundreds of dollars if they had to mail the forms out to the families themselves and they could miss some.

But this year, once again, the agencies came through.

Those applications are then returned and transferred to bell ornaments to be hung on several trees in local businesses. Those ornaments are printed by Anchor Graphics and cut out and strung by the Lions Womens Club. They can be retrieved by shoppers. Each ornament contains one childs Christmas wish.

Trees are currently up at North Coast Fred Meyer, TLC Credit Union, Astoria Aquatic Center, Video Horizons, Safeway, Wells Fargo, and U.S. Bank, among other places.

Those who pick up a bell can bring their unwrapped gift back to the business where they selected it. Those gifts are then taken to the Clatsop County Fairgrounds, where Roberts and a group of loyal volunteers Roberts own Christmas elves can sort and organize the gifts so families can pick up their items in one neat stack the week before Christmas.

This year, gifts will be picked up Dec. 17. The U.S. Army National Guard will pick up the left over packages Dec. 18 and distribute those to families, too.

Wrapping paper is also collected to give to the families for those items.

Of course, Roberts added, people can bring their donations out to the fairgrounds, too.

Id actually love it if people dropped them off out here because they get to see the program and they get to see what we actually do out here, she said. I think its quite the operation but a lot of people still dont know about it.

Some toys will also be donated in bulk, for Roberts to sort and distribute, stemming from a toy drive hosted at Knappa High School. A student at Astoria High School is helping Roberts through her senior project.

The toys are filled in for the children whose entire wish hasnt been granted, within reason. For example, Roberts explained, one child asked for a Barbie, a jacket and a Hello Kitty item. They received the Hello Kitty item, and the program is very grateful for that fulfillment. But if a Barbie and a jacket are also donated through the Knappa School District or other donation site, that child will likely also receive those items.

Another child asked for toy trucks and toy cars. Two Hot Wheels cars were received. But to make that childs Christmas morning more special, Roberts will likely help Santa to bring more to that child and his family.

And as an extra blessing this year, the program was selected to be the recipient of more than 1,000 toys from Portlands KPTV toy drive.

Roberts also purchases toys for children with money that comes in, through things like Rogers holiday bazaars. That money goes to help fulfill the wishes for bells not selected.

Last year, the program helped more than 1,000 children. This year, applications are still coming in.

Well, we have about 700 applications right now, Roberts said Tuesday. We had about 700 at this time last year, too, but we also had 700 returned bells with toys. This year, we dont have very many yet. Its still early though and were hoping those come in.

Jolly, not Grinch

If youre skeptical of the program or of scammers, dont fret: Roberts is too.

I keep a record and I check them. Believe me, I check them. If one year a family had only one daughter, age 10, named Diana and this year they have a 10-year-old named Pollyanna, I call them. Sometimes I ask the state agencies to help if its a question, and sometimes they can explain to me the situation, Roberts said. But shes not afraid to address an issue, when some people are less like Jolly Ol St. Nick and more like the Grinch.

It doesnt happen very often, but it does happen, she said in disbelief.

She also pledges that every child whos granted their Christmas wish by a citizen receives exactly what was purchased for them. Items are never pulled from a childs package to be given elsewhere. Their packages are only added to, never subtracted from.

If a family has three children and Ben and Rachel get a lot of stuff but Nicki doesnt get very much, well add to Nickis pile. We never take away from the others, said Roberts.

On the day of the pick up, most children will be provided a new or slightly used winter coat, collected through the Astoria School District teachers union.

Some children will also received knitted scarves and gloves, provided by the Regatta Anchor Ladies.

For the last several years the ABATE chapter of the North Coast has donated new bikes for the children. As of Tuesday, Roberts said she didnt know if they would be providing the bikes this year. She said her fingers were crossed, in hopes they would come through.

But after all the toys and gifts for the children comes the family Christmas meal.

Myrle Bruner is in her second year as coordinator for the Astoria Christmas Basket program. She and her group of volunteers distribute boxes of turkeys or chickens depending on family size as well as potatoes, vegetables, fruits, dry goods and eggs.

The boxes not picked up on the night of the event can be picked up from the local food pantries.

Roberts works side-by-side with Bruner to make sure all Astoria families have a merry Christmas.

I used to do the whole county, Roberts said with a laugh, so this is easy!

Both are seeking donations of toys, food items and everything else to make a childs Christmas special.

How to help

To donate, pick up a bell at one of the tree sites.

Bruners program will be the recipient of the Astoria Fire Departments annual food collection parade, running Dec. 11 through 13.

After Christmas, any left-over gifts, bikes, coats and wrapping paper, as well as the programs tables and setup equipment are stored free of charge at Pauls Storage in Warrenton. The owner has donated three spaces for the program every year.