Inclusive Arts Pottery and Craft Studio owner Barb Belway stands next to her Pay It Forward tree, located at 81 Hudson Ave. In addition to Christmas ornaments, Belway chose to decorate her store’s sponsored Downtown Salmon Arm Christmas tree with a variety of offerings, from children’s mittens to packets of hot chocolate mix, for people to take. She hopes, in turn, that people will add to the tree in the spirit of paying it forward. (Lachlan Labere/Salmon Arm Observer)

Inclusive Arts Pottery and Craft Studio owner Barb Belway stands next to her Pay It Forward tree, located at 81 Hudson Ave. In addition to Christmas ornaments, Belway chose to decorate her store’s sponsored Downtown Salmon Arm Christmas tree with a variety of offerings, from children’s mittens to packets of hot chocolate mix, for people to take. She hopes, in turn, that people will add to the tree in the spirit of paying it forward. (Lachlan Labere/Salmon Arm Observer)

Downtown Salmon Arm businesses decorate with the spirit of giving

Business owners use Christmas trees to give back to community

A number of downtown Salmon Arm businesses aren’t waiting until Dec. 25 to put gifts around the Christmas tree.

Christmas trees have sprung up once again in the city’s commercial core, courtesy of Downtown Salmon Arm, for decoration by local businesses.

In addition to the usual festive decorations, a number of business owners are using their sponsored trees to give back to the community. The Inclusive Arts Pottery and Craft Studio owner Barb Belway has set hers up as a Pay It Forward tree. In addition to Christmas ornaments, Belway has chosen to decorate the tree, located at 81 Hudson Ave., with a variety of offerings, from children’s mittens to packets of hot chocolate mix, that are free to take. In turn, she hopes, people will add to the tree in the spirit of paying it forward.

Related: In photos: Downtown Salmon Arm tree lighting

Curves gym owner Sue Jordan has her business’ sponsored tree, located at the corner of Lakeshore Drive and Shuswap Street, adorned with toques, socks, gloves and other items donated by the gym’s members that are available for the public to take as needed. Curves employee Ashley Holecz said new items will be added each week to the tree so it isn’t left bare.


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