FCCLA collected donations for its annual Angel Tree yesterday during academic period in the practice gym, with cookies and hot chocolate provided for those who donated. Various students and staff came together to provide gifts and supplies to over 50 families in need, including seven students from the high school itself.
“Chef Jason Walsh began the Angel Tree many years ago,” FCCLA sponsor Tracey Davis said. “I wanted to continue this amazing community service, so I simply [picked up] what he started.”
Information regarding the families in need that will receive donations is sourced through Aware Central Texas, with planning beginning around late October and the information being received in mid-November. Donations are typically collected on Monday during the week of midterms, then distributed to their intended families accordingly.
“The Angel Tree is set up and decorated the week before Thanksgiving, [around the] same time the list of families is sent to me,” Davis said. “We have amazing LHS students and staff. I request 40 – 50 families each year, and each year I end up requesting more.”
Donations for the Angel Tree are not held to strict standards, though participating students and staff are encouraged to try to get their adopted person(s) a fair mix of both their needs and wants.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for people to get involved in the community,” FCCLA treasurer Dean Hannibal said. “It’s always nice to see people help out families in need and make their Christmas a little bit better, and I hope that next year’s students can keep the tradition going.”
FCCLA typically leads the high school’s Angel Tree, though several other local organizations may also host their own. Each year, various groups like NHS and FFA also help with adoption and provide donations for children and families.
“Each year, we typically get two to three children ‘assigned’ to the organization,” NHS sponsor Allison Brayton said. “I give [NHS students] about a week or two to volunteer to purchase items from the wish list or donate money to our secretary. Then, the NHS officers and I meet at Walmart to buy any remaining items from the wish list or extra gifts we think the children or families could use.”
While the Angel Tree is key in granting children and families many of the items on their wishlists each year, it is also a significant factor in providing them with essentials like socks, clothing and other basic necessities, which FCCLA hopes to expand to all families in need.
“My first-year goal was to serve 40 families,” Davis said. “Now, my goal is to have a minimum of 50. Each year we have met or exceeded that number. This year, we added seven students to the tree from LHS. Some of the schools in our district adopt their own students in need, and I would like to follow suit. I plan to work closely with other LISD schools to ensure our families in need receive the support from their LHS family.”
