"WHAT'S GREAT THIS WEEK"
Courtesy of the Fort Worth StarTelegram

A Fort Worth tradition that has symbolized
hope and generosity for years now graces
the pages of a new children's book. The
Homeless Christmas Tree is about a
sparse mimosa tree atop a hill on Interstate
30 between Beach Street and Oakland
Boulevard that, for years, was lovingly
decorated by an anonymous woman as a gift
to the homeless in the city. The
Star-Telegram reported in 2001 that the
woman was Carla Christian, who said she
began decorating the tree in 1995 as a
reminder that people should make time for
those less fortunate. Now, author Leslie M.
Gordon has turned the heartwarming story
into a children's book. "I've loved the tree
for years, and I've always wanted to write
about it," she says. The book, $19.95 plus
shipping and handling, is available online at
http://www.thehomelesschristmastree.com/
and at some participating area bookstores.
Quantities are limited. A portion of the
profits will be donated to the Big Texas
Toy Run and the Chisholm Trail Chapter
of the American Red Cross.