Giving Tree At Holmdel Village School A Lesson In Generosity

HOLMDEL, NJ — This holiday season the staff and families of Village School continued a 20-year tradition of The Giving Tree.

Social Studies teacher Jami Kenney began this project 20 years ago, then in her first-grade classroom, she said.

"With the help of the Parent School association (PSA), The Giving Tree initiative has grown schoolwide over the past several years and is able to bring so much joy to Monmouth County families in need for the holidays," Kenney said.

This year, Village School was able to donate 600 gift cards and thousands of gifts to Family & Children Service to help make families' holiday memorable, Kenney said.

With over 110 years of history, Family & Children’s Service is the oldest, private nonprofit social service agency in Monmouth County and a leading volunteer organization, according to its website.

Kenney said she started the Giving Tree in her first-grade classroom; then the idea went throughout just the first grade.

"Since it was so successful, I asked my principal at the time to make it schoolwide and the rest is history!" she said.

Village School is a Pre-K to third-grade school, so the youngest pupils are involved in the project - and staff members participate, too.

Kenney said the project has always donated to Family & Children's Service of Monmouth County.

"These families do without all year and especially during the holiday season," she said.

She said each child asks for a different item. The front of the card has the child's name, age and gender. On the back of the card there are four items.

"We ask our school community to spend at a minimum $25. The gifts on the card are simply 'wishes.' A participant doesn't have to purchase all the gifts - but they can if they want. Most of our participants purchase all of the gifts on the card!" Kenney said.