“Watch the top,” someone said.

The tree bypassed the metal detector as it entered the shelter.

D&B Supply President Mark Schmitt, in cowboy boots, jeans and a black shirt, joined in with others to help carry the Christmas tree inside the shelter. Schmitt helped reach out to Donahue to figure out where to donate the tree.

The multi-colored ornaments jingled as the tree squeezed through the door into a small cafeteria down the center’s hallway.

“Quite a project,” Boise Rescue Mission Ministries President & CEO Bill Roscoe said, laughing. The center is a Boise Rescue Mission facility and offers 66 beds for homeless women and children.

Finally, the group set the faux-conifer down in front of a quilt hanging from the wall. Donahue and Schmitt, along with others, began tearing the shrink wrap off, revealing ornaments like snowflakes and spools of thread. At the top, staring up at the fluorescent lighting, was a Santa head, glasses perched above rosy cheeks. The room got dark, and circles of light on the tree faded from light to rainbow and back again.

“Thing of beauty,” said Roscoe, who had not yet seen the tree. “I think it’s fantastic. That’s beautiful...There’s more decorations on that tree then they have at Walmart.”

The center has other Christmas traditions. There will be a big meal on Dec. 25 and Santa and Mrs. Claus will stop by. Staff members already have presents for all the people in the shelter and additional gifts for anyone who may show up before then, Roscoe said.

Between 30-40 women and children are at the shelter every night, he said.

The goal of the tree is to bring a sense of a normal holiday, Roscoe said. Donahue echoed that sentiment.

“For people who aren’t going to have the routine Christmas that we have...let’s get it over to the women and children’s center so they can enjoy this very, very beautiful tree,” Donahue said, standing in a room in front of human-sized red and white candy cane decorations. “This is just one more thing we can do for somebody else.”