The Giving Trees is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that personally delivers free Christmas trees — plus stands, lights, ornaments — to individuals and families who need extra support during the holiday season. We were founded in 2020 and have grown every year since.
In 2025, we began using Claude to read the applications that come in. That is the part of the work this piece is about.
5,223 families served · 34 states · 11 countries · 2020–2025
What Having a Christmas Tree Means
When families apply for a tree, we ask them: “Why is having a Christmas tree important to you this year?” Their response does not affect whether they get a tree; we ask because we want to understand what the people we serve are going through.
One response from this year’s 500+ applications:
“My mom is dying of a brain tumor and this will be our last holidays together.” — Applicant, 2025
Across 500+ applications, this is the norm.
The 2025 Season
Personalizing outreach to the families who need the most support has always been part of what The Giving Trees wanted to do. But reading hundreds of applications carefully enough to identify who — and then writing something specific and human for each of them — was beyond our capacity. Our small volunteer team was doing it by feel.
We had wanted to do this the year before. We didn’t have the capacity.
“My health is very rapidly declining. I am a single mom of a 15 year old amazing son. We were placed in this beautiful apartment after 9 months of being in a shelter due to being put into protective custody for domestic violence. Last year we had been placed here for one month and I made a tree out of construction paper.” — Applicant, 2025
For the 2025 season, we tried something different. We used Claude to read every application — 500+ in Portland alone. We gave Claude specific criteria for identifying the families who most needed more than a tree: recent bereavement, active medical crisis, domestic violence recovery, acute housing instability with children, or serious compounding hardship — multiple simultaneous losses arriving at once. Claude identified 100 families whose applications indicated these circumstances most acutely. The program can only reach 100. Claude helped us identify which 100.
For each family, Claude drafted a 50–70 word note of support, written in a non-seasonal, plain voice, drawing on the applicant’s own words.
Beyond the notes, we provided personal gifts tailored to what each family had requested — toys and clothes for their children, groceries, and other items they had named as most needed.
Local high school volunteers then, using what we had generated with Claude, handwrote cards to strangers in crisis. The volunteers arrived at the cards fresh. Claude had made it possible to analyze the 500 applications so that we could get to the 100.
The work continued past December. In the weeks after the holidays, we went back to the applications — using Claude to re-read responses without the time pressure of the season — to identify families we wanted to follow up with. We sent follow-up notes through the winter. Our goal as an organization is to support these families throughout the year, not only at the holidays. This was a small but important move in that direction.
“Because it’s the first year my 2 year old granddaughter and my 4 children will celebrate Christmas together. I was in my addiction for 22 years and I now have 7 years clean so all 4 of my kids want me in their life. And want to spend the holiday at my house…it’s a huge deal for me and part of my healing journey in recovery.” — Applicant, 2025
Looking Ahead: Holiday Season 2026
Here are a few ways we’re already using Claude for the 2026 season:
Analyze six years of delivery data to understand the areas with the greatest need
Tailor donor outreach so we cultivate more personal connection with our supporters
Build consistent communication with the community partners who refer families to us
The Result
Allison was among the 100 families we wrote to. She is a domestic violence survivor recently bereaved, beginning to rebuild. She received our handwritten note.
She wrote back to us by hand, which was unexpected and not required.
“It came at a time when I really needed to hear/get that message. Grief is a very messy, no rules, no hints kind of emotion. I put the card on my fridge as a daily reminder when I need it.” — Allison
Allison added a postscript: “If you ever need a helping hand this year or any year, let me know — I’m willing to help out any way I can, wherever!”
We’ve been doing this six years, and we’re always thrilled when a recipient comes back to volunteer with us. With our new workflow, we anticipate that happening more and more.