WILTON — Local teachers and community members have joined forces again to make sure elementary school children have warm winter clothing through the annual Holiday Giving Tree program.
They are asking for help collecting specific clothing requests at both G.D. Cushing School and Academy Hill School. The requests are only for winter coats, snow pants, boots and gloves.
In each school lobby, there is an evergreen tree decorated with brightly-colored paper ornaments made by second-grade students. Each ornament represents a request for a winter clothing item for a local student.
Community members, local businesses, churches, and nonprofits are invited to come in, pick out a tag, purchase the item(s) and bring them back to the school by Friday, Dec. 16.
The need for the Holiday Giving Tree is as great as ever, organizers said. Kids who wait for the bus, or walk to school, and go outside at recess time need proper clothes to stay warm.
Currently, more than 60 percent of students at both G.D. Cushing and Academy Hill Schools qualify for free and reduced school lunch program, according to school staff. With more than 360 students attending the two schools, that’s more than 215 kids.
Organizers are asking the community to come, choose a tag, and help kids be warm this winter.
For more information about the Holiday Giving Tree program, contact school staff at 645-2442 (Cushing) or 645-4488 (Academy), or stop by either school to choose an ornament.
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