PORTAGE | For the last dozen years, employees in the city's Water Reclamation Department have worked to make Christmas a little brighter for some city residents.

They've helped bring the sparkles, lights and greenery into the homes of residents who might not otherwise be able to afford a Christmas tree and decorations.

They are doing it again this year.

"We usually get six to eight fully decorated trees with lights. We'd like to get a couple more this year," Jenna Moore, secretary with the department's field division, said.

The program started in the late 1990s by then department secretary/treasurer Daryl Wilder. The idea then, as it is now, was to simply brighten the holidays for residents who might consider Christmas trees as a luxury.

Each year since then the department has collected trees, lights and ornaments.

Moore said she's concerned there may not be as many donations this year because of problems in the economy and the September flooding that might have damaged or destroyed decorations that would have otherwise been donated.

Anyone with trees, ornaments, garland, tree skirts, tree tops or other tree decorations they may not need this year are being asked to drop them off at the field division's office, 2301 Hamstrom Road. The deadline for the donations is 3 p.m. Thursday. The fully decorated trees will be distributed the next week. Names of families needing trees and decorations are gathered from area churches and organizations.

For more information on the project, call (219) 763-2986.