by: Emma Helmick
As the holiday season approaches, many families become excited, but sometimes forget about those who are less fortunate than them.
Holidays can be a stressful time for some families who are struggling. GS attempts to help them through The Giving Tree. According to Guidance Counselor Mrs. Laura Klipa, about 46% of families from the High School currently do not have enough financial support to spend their extra money buying their children Christmas presents.
In an effort to help, the District donates money and supplies to families in need.
Some of the gifts that were donated by the community so far.
Photo by: Emma Helmick
The Giving Tree began at the school in 2007 by Mrs. Klipa when she started at the High School.
“All of the Elementary schools and Middle School had one and I noticed the need for older siblings to get help,” Klipa said.
One of their main events is shopping for individual kids. Advisory classes can go to the library and take a tag off the tree, but students and teachers can also do it on their own.
“I think it’s one of the nicest things that we do in the building, I’m a big fan, I support it and I’m happy to sell things here in the library,” Librarian Mrs. Carrie Vottero said.
On the tag there is a kid from the school and the person who has that tag will get a list of things and the student’s size and age that way they can shop for them.
“The people who come down to take the tags are a big deal because those are specific kids who need things and their families have called to say that they have a need,” Mrs. Vottero said. “It’s nice for kids to take them on because it becomes much more personal choosing things for an actual person.”
Interested families can call the schools to request help for their children. The Giving Tree wants to provide families with things like presents and holiday meals.
“I think it’s a really great thing that helps the community,” junior Emily Ruggieri said. “That helps everyone become a bit more connected because when you feel like you’ve done a good thing for someone else, you know you become a more open person. I think that’s good for us as a whole as a society.”
Examples of the families in need were listed in the letter sent out to the GS community. That consists of homeless families living in shelters, sick and disabled parents unable to work to provide for their families, families who have had financial hardship due to needs of handicap or special needs children, students with parents working two or more jobs still unable to meet the financial demands of their family, students who work daily to contribute to their family basics like food, shelter, clothing and students with parents who are seriously mentally ill and unable to maintain employment.
That’s not the only way GS helps with The Giving Tree, though, people can also donate to it in many ways from just going to events or buying a sweet treat.
The Giving Tree located in the library with tags still available.
Photo by: Rubee Stillwagon
The library sells chocolate covered pretzels that Mrs. Kelley Audia and her advisory class make. All of the profits go to The Giving Tree. There have also been events that donate to The Giving Tree such as the Powderpuff Game.
“I think kids are happy to support it because it can make them feel better about what they’re buying, knowing it is going to their own people and it helps our community,” Vottero said.
Chocolate covered pretzels will most likely continue to be sold in the library for the rest of the year. After covering the ingredients it takes to make them, all of the profit goes to the families in need.
“Any time someone has spare change in their pocket, I don’t care if it’s a dime, I think it’s a great thing to support,” Vottero said.
Donations can be sent to the Greensburg Salem HS Guidance Office-65 Mennel Dr. Greensburg, PA 15601. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns. Contact us at: 724-832-2970 or laura.klipa@gslions.net
The Lions' Den 