MARIETTA--During Advent, parishioners at Transfiguration Parish in Marietta, placed more than 1,800 Christmas-wrapped packages under the Giving Tree. On the fourth Sunday of Advent, the gifts were distributed to the elderly and the poor in Cobb, Paulding and Haralson counties.

Gifts were taken to patients at the children’s psychiatric ward at Grady Hospital; $500 worth of MARTA tokens went to downtown shelters, and over $2,000 was given to the St. Vincent de Paul Society for rent, utility payments and food for people in need.

Gifts were taken by parents and children to guests at Meadowbrook Nursing Home. Carols were sung and laughter filled the halls.

On Christmas Day, the bare Giving Tree, now decorated with tiny sparkling lights, overlooked the Nativity scene.