‘Tis the season of giving, and while unfortunately, there’s never a shortage of those in need, we can also be grateful for the many who are able to provide. Cuthbertson High School is doing their part by teaming up the Union County (UC) Christmas Bureau to do just that! The school has set up a Christmas tree in their media center where volunteers can choose a gift tag of their choice to fulfill the wishes of needy children right here in Union County.
CHS has been participating in this specific fundraiser since it opened its doors back in 2009, and it continues to be successful. According to their Media Assistant Carolyn Hsiao, “We increase [the campaign] by 10 kids each year because our population wants to buy the presents! This year, we have 70 kids.”
Hsiao is one of two volunteers in the Media Center who coordinates the fundraiser for the school – making gift tags for each item, decorating the tree, managing those that select the tags to ensure they come back with the desired gifts, and filling in any obvious holes in a child’s wish list that they’re able to supplement with club funds.
There are approximately six to 10 presents per child, and traditionally, all the wish list items have been fulfilled, and then some when possible. This year, 33 bikes have been requested, and each is required to come with a helmet. According to Hsiao, there will be wish lists that simply ask for school uniforms or other very basic needs, but we know the kid loves dance, gymnastics or fishing, so they’ll tack those items on to make the child’s Christmas that much more memorable.
All gifts are due back by December 8, and volunteers are welcome to call the Media Center to be assigned a tag. Hsiao is always in awe of the generosity of their community, recalling last year when one parent spent $2,000 donating all sorts of big-ticket items. And this year, the FCCLA (Family Career and Community Leaders of America) as a club will fittingly donate a play kitchen.
“I love to see the faces of our volunteers change when they look at the children’s requests and realize we have so much and they have so little,” she said.
