2025 YMCA GIVING TREE
Every year, through the YMCA Giving Tree, community members - young and old - have the opportunity to bring joy, spread light, and make holiday wishes come true for those in need in the Fargo/Moorhead/West Fargo community. Read below to learn more about the Y's giving efforts this holiday season and find an opportunity that fits with you and your family.
Giving Tree Participant Enrollment
NEW IN 2025: Eligibility Guidelines
We know the need in our community continues to grow. To make sure we can serve families in the fairest way, we have eligibility guidelines. Parents or guardians will be asked to share documents and complete information for each child when registering.
Registration Details:
• Forms will be accepted until we reach capacity.
• Registration is open until we reach capacity.
• To register, you will need to create an account and complete the online form. (The form works best on a computer).
• Families must upload required documents to be considered.
Who Can Register:
• Youth ages 0–18 living in Cass County (ND) or Clay County (MN).
• New this year! Families may only register for one program (YMCA or Salvation Army).
• Duplicate or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Register Children in Need
If you know children in need of holiday gifts, please refer or register them for our Giving Tree! Registration is open now and will remain open until we reach program capacity.
• Current/Previous YMCA Members & Program Participants: To get started, simply click "create account" and enter the same email you have used in the past with your registration.
• New Users: If you have never created an online account with our YMCA, you will be directed to do prior to your registration. Then you can continue on to your registration
How to Shop for Gifts
Your generosity brings so much joy and hope to families who may not otherwise have presents to open this season! See below to learn how you can support the effort!
+ Shop for a Child's Wishlist
Shop for a Child's Wishlist
Tags are now available at the Fercho and Schlossman YMCAs as well as Family Wellness.
- Pick a tag from the Giving Tree location of your choice
- Register/check out the tag
- Buy the corresponding gift(s)
- Return it unwrapped to the Fercho YMCA by December 5 (or the community location you got it from).
+ Shop Our Amazon and Target Gift Lists
Our biggest need items are on the YMCA Amazon and Target Gift Lists. Ship directly to the YMCA Elf Squad at the Fercho YMCA!
+ Donate Gift Cards for the Hard-to-Shop-for Teens
NEW THIS YEAR! We're hosting a gift card drive to help shop for Teens
- We have hundreds of teens requesting gifts each year, and they can be difficult to buy gifts for.
- Gift card donations should be in increments of $25 to a food, entertainment, or retail establishment a teen would enjoy using.
- Please drop off at the Fercho YMCA or Schlossman YMCA Member Services Desk.
How to Donate Monetarily
Make a cash donation that will allow our YMCA Giving Elves to directly purchase the gift items that are most requested by families, and ensure that every participant receives gifts and much needed necessities this holiday season.
+ Donate Monetarily
Give directly to the Giving Tree in the link below
CASH FOR YMCA ELF SQUAD
The YMCA of the Northern Sky now accepts donations via Venmo
Donate via VENMO
Volunteer with the Giving Tree
Join the YMCA Elf Squad as a volunteer and help spread holiday joy! Various volunteer opportunities will be needed from November through December, including sorting and packing gifts, gift distribution, and more!
+ How to Volunteer for the Giving Tree
Volunteer
The button below allows individuals to pick the tasks and shifts to help out.
Please note: If you are a company wanting to provide a group to volunteer, please email givingtree@ymcanorthernsky.org so we can schedule you together, instead of choosing individual shifts.
Our Giving Tree Sponsors
Thank You Sponsors!
Giving Tree Sponsor:
Forum Communications
Registration Partners:
Great North Pole
Salvation Army
True North Church
Community Tree Sponsors:
CMTA
Family Wellness
Gethsemane Episcopal Cathedral
Horace Lutheran Church
Magnum Electric
MasTec
One Financial Wealth
Prairie Heights Church
St John's Lutheran Church
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church
SKBS & CBS Youth & Family Team of State of ND
Swanson Health Products
+ Become a Giving Tree Sponsor
Become a Sponsor!
The YMCA Giving Tree would not be possible without the support of our community. Your business or organization can directly support children in need this holiday season. If you are interested in partnering with us on the Giving Tree, please consider lending your support today.
2025 SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES (PDF)
Email GivingTree@YMCANorthernSky.org to learn how you can become a sponsor of this heartwarming community program.
Whatever holiday you and your family are celebrating this season, we wish you peace, joy, and hope!