By: Camila Chaves ‘23, Staff Writer 

     Do you want to give back this holiday season? The Giving Tree is a great opportunity for you.

     The Giving Tree is a student government-sponsored charitable contribution to Bethel families in need. 

     Ms. Musser, the head of student government, organizes this charity event every year.  The organizers speak to the Bethel Social Services Department, telling them how many families they would be able to “adopt” for the season.    

     This year, the student government will be helping 15 families, the most they’ve ever done. Social services also provide the organizers with small descriptions of what a family will need. For example, they will say a one-year-old girl needs clothes, or a five-year-old boy would like a toy car. Names and any other personal information remain private. 

     Ms. Musser sent out sign-up sheets the week before Thanksgiving, allowing staff, students, and their families to sign up to give back to our community. 

      In past years, people participated by picking name tags from a tree. This year, sign-ups were sent by email, making the process more organized than in past years. 

     All contributions should be brought to Ms. Musser by the second week of December. Once the student government receives all the gifts, they work together to wrap and prepare to give them away. 

     The Giving Tree allows families in need to give their children a happy holiday season and to keep the magic of the holiday season alive. 

     “It is a good way to share human kindness,” Ms. Musser said.