SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa (KTIV) - Food pantries see their shelves empty fast during the holiday season, but one creative fundraiser at the Great Lakes Mall is helping to restock those shelves, one decorated tree at a time.

The Festival of Giving Trees features decorated trees with themes that follow food items the Upper Des Moines Food Bank needs. Instead of traditional ornaments or tinsel, each tree represents a specific food item the pantry requires.

Kimberly Olander, Spirit Lake Silver and Gold’s marketing manager, coordinates the effort each year.

“Every fall I call and see what they are low in stock on, so we work together to come up with a list of 10-15 items that they are really in need of at the food bank,” Olander said.

Participating organizations are assigned an item, and from there

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