By Jolie Vargas
The Prowler
To begin the festive season at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, a nonprofit foundation will be sponsored by the high school to make the most out of the holidays for those in need around Bridgewater.
The Giving Tree Project, according to Linda Schulte, a Library Technician at the high school's media center, is a program that the high school has participated in for many years.
"The Division of Child Protection and Permanency asks us how many tags we'd like and provides us with a list of gifts the children want and need. The list is very humbling as the children need clothing, shoes, socks etc.," Ms. Schulte explained. "As a Bridgewater-Raritan Community, our staff and students fund the project by purchasing gifts for the dept. to help make the holidays brighter for local children/families in need. The high school community is very generous.
Many other businesses, churches and schools in our community also support the agency by purchasing presents for the children.
The Giving Tree arrived at the high school on November 21 and will remain until December 18.
The agency gives us the list based on the social worker's advice after they talk to their clients.
Children in foster care or relative care who were in need were given the opportunity to make a Christmas wish list and submit it to the foundation. These lists were then received and made into tags to be collected by donors.
For this year’s project, students and teachers will be encouraged to pick up a tag and purchase what is listed. Generally, the lists are more needs-based. They often include daily necessities and winter attire, such as shower essentials, jackets and boots. Despite this, a variety of gift cards have been requested as well.
After purchasing, the gift should be handed over to either Ms. Schulte or Shilpa Wakde in a bag with the tag stapled on it. Once a year, this agency will reunite the child with the parent, and the present that was bought by a donor will be handed to the child by the parent
Beforehand, the parent will wrap the present. This non-profit foundation is especially beneficial to those in need who are not able to provide their children with gifts for the holidays and to children who were separated from their parents.
Ms. Schulte expressed her gratitude for the project.
“Every year I never have a tag that’s not taken and it really shows me how good and giving the people here are. This is my favorite time of the year, and I enjoy having an empty tree because that means all the children on the list are going to get a present for the holidays,” Ms. Schulte said.
If any students are interested in making a child’s and parent’s holidays brighter, gift tags will be available in the library or room 1022.