Family Giving Tree (Shari's memoirs: 1997 - the present)
Family Giving Tree 
The doorway
leading to a Mtn. View warehouse that became a second home for many of us
during December.
A portent of things to come: a present makes its way
up the conveyor belt.
Santa Claus
and elves, eat your hearts out! The Family Giving Tree has enough gifts
to rival anything at the North Pole.
The Queen
Elf, a.k.a. Jennifer Cullenbine
Pietrasik, smiles in between barking fierce orders on her walkie-talkie.
(Just kidding Jenn!)
Elf Shari's
spin on Edvard Munch's "The Scream," inspired by the thousands
of gifts. Also reminiscent of "Home Alone".
Elf Kendall's
been a good boy this year, so he hopes he gets to keep the toy he's had
so much fun playing with in the warehouse office.
Elves Dan,
Shari, Karrie, David and Lisa Other have a Coke and a smile while kicking
back during a brief respite in the office.
"May
I help you, sir?" elf Leslie asks cheerfully as disgruntled "customer"
Kendall demands a refund.
Elf Gennie says one of the many cool perks of volunteering
is that you might get to pick up a cute, cuddly guy like she did here!
Elves Shari
and Marcia, hungry from volunteering all day, almost succumb to temptation
and eat this giant chocolate Santa.
Elf Ruby makes
a clean sweep as she sorts some of the last remaining gift piles and cleans
the upstairs of the warehouse.
The sign over the entrance to a Sunnyvale warehouse
that was loaned to the FGT not a moment too soon!
Trucks unload their precious cargo into the arms of
waiting elfen volunteers.
A Herculean task awaits the intrepid elves who tackle
this gift pile!
An aerial view of rows of gifts in the warehouse. Whoever
took this photo (which I borrowed) obviously climbed a ladder!
Gifts missing their tags, not wrapped or damaged are
no match for the "Problem Gift" lady -- she'll make them right!
Visions of brightly coloured gifts dance in elf Shari's
head - actually before her eyes!
Elf Larry finds himself unable to give directions without
giggling. Perhaps he's put in a few too many hours in the warehouse?
Elves Gennie and Bryan take a break from fulfilling
wishes to pose with a bear that sings the Macarena. (UGH!)
Elves Kendall and Shari take a break with the aforementioned
bear. "This is just like Sears Portrait Studio!" Kendall laughs.
Busy elf Kendall tries to perfect his juggling routine
using gifts. What is the sound of one item juggling?
Longtime elf Marie is as chipper as ever, while elf
David seems in need of some caffeine.
She just came from singing with the Mission Valley Chorus
chapter of Sweet Adelines Int'l,
and elf Karrie is already ready to work.
Elves Ken and Erin discover two people have an easier
time than one when it comes to bagging gifts.
The "kitchen" was full of edibles and refreshments
for hungry and thirsty FGT staff elves and volunteers.
Elf Lisa H. discovers she can cover the expansive warehouse
much faster on the elf-mobile than on foot.
Ruby has been a volunteer elf for so many years that
she's finally turned into a walking, talking human gift pile! Shari is agog.
Longtime elf Cynthia has an uncanny skill for perfectly
packing every nook and cranny of vaults with leftover gifts.
Here's the Queen Elf herself: Jennifer
Cullenbine Pietrasik.
I do have photos from the 1999, 2000 and 2001 Family Giving Tree seasons,
but I'm terribly behind in scanning and updating.
However, I will add to this page as soon as I can! Feel free to visit the
FGT website too!
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