It started as a single tree covered with 50 gift tags of wishes from Manatee County students, who may otherwise not have a Merry Christmas.
That was 15 years ago, and Kami Lake, School Social Worker, recalls the first year she started The Giving Tree project, and the blessing it has become for so many families.
She hears the stories, too. Former recipients are now adults and giving back to the same program which ensured happy holidays for them during hard times.
Each paper angel lists a student’s first name, age, favorite color, clothing, and shoe sizes, urgent needs and two special wishes.
The school-aged children are identified by school social workers and selected for dealing with tremendous adversity this year.
Some may have lost their home to a fire, suffered the death of a parent, or experienced big life changes due to financial struggles or otherwise.
In 2023, a total of 626 Manatee County students from 207 families will experience the results of this holiday cheer.
On a blustery December morning, school social workers and volunteers wearing personalized elf t-shirts set up Santa’s workshop in the parking lot at one of the school district worksites.
Driving from Myakka City to Anna Maria Island, representatives from 44 schools or district-related programs, such as Project Heart, picked up gifts to be distributed to the families of The Giving Tree recipients.
“We received an AMAZING donation from Books-A-Million Bradenton – more than $12,000 worth of books and toys,” said Kami Lake. “Without our community elves, we couldn’t do the magic we do.”
It truly takes a village. Hundreds of elves including District employees, law enforcement agencies, first responders, business owners, church groups, and grocery chains, fulfilled wishes and wrapped those presents.
They deserve recognition, so we give a nod (no particular order) to: School District of Manatee County (SDMC) employees from the Professional Support Center, Walter E. Miller Support Center and Matzke Complex; Books-A-Million Bradenton (Cortez Road & 41); residents of Waterlefe; Oden Hardy Construction; Arsenault Dermatology; Harbor Chiropractic; Dye, Harrison, Kirkland, Petruff & Pratt Law Firm; Carl Reynolds Law; Manatee County Sheriff’s Office; State Attorney’s Office, 12th Judicial Circuit; School District of Manatee County Federal Programs and Grants; Fire Charity Fishing Foundation; Publix at Westgate, Silver Leaf, Palmetto, Beachway Plaza, Twelve Oaks and Lockwood Commons; Fine Properties, Julie Franklin Realty Team; Gloria Dei Lutheran Church; Bayshore Gardens Community Church; Cedar Hammock Fire Department; North River Fire Department; Florida Association of Nurse Practitioners; Sherry Ann’s Shop; Newby Technologies; Richardson-Stinton Roofing; Center Montessori School; State College of Florida Honor Society; School for Constructive Play; Grooving with Debbie at Tara Preserve; Jazzercise Lakewood Ranch; and finally, all the individual elves who are retired educators, family of SDMC employees and kind citizens who reach out every year to help families.
Special thanks to Kami Lake and all her colleagues and volunteers, who spend many hours during their personal time organizing, shopping, transporting and sprinkling joy throughout our schools and community.