KYLE — Many may not know that, just like himself, Santa has helpers that work year-round. Every September, when children are starting the school year, running around the playground and solving math problems, the Hays CISD counselor and communications teams are preparing for the district's annual Angel Tree Project.
Now in its 15th year, coordinator of volunteers and partnerships Elizabeth Bracamontes explained that the project initially began when staff members took note of students wearing the same two or three outfits to school, using one pair of shoes for the entire year and only eating during the school day and not at home. It was then that counselors would do additional research to find assistance programs for the families and students, but these did not always apply to the holidays: “Once we found a need, we found that also our Hays community and district have that giving spirit, that they wanted to support these kiddos that are in need,” she said.
Because of this, the Angel Tree Project, which matches families to donors, was created in hopes of supporting Hays CISD students and their siblings.
According to Bracamontes, the process is quite lengthy, beginning in September, when students are initially identified, communicating with more than 100 counselors in the district, donors receiving their family, all the way up until the gifts are delivered.
After the students are identified, each campus can choose up to eight families to participate and if there is a greater need, then an additional three can be chosen. Each slot taken by a family includes all siblings that are 18 years old or younger, including infants and toddlers. For campuses with parents who do not want to be given holiday assistance, these spots can be given to other campuses or families that need it.
The matching process is completely anonymous and ran by Bracamontes herself.
“The donors can enter that they prefer a family of one student all the way up to any family size and then, I take those preferences and I match them with a family that has one kid or two, three or four kids, depending on what the donor is able to donate for,” she explained. “A lot of times, we also see organizations that will sign up together. For example, we’ve got a few nonprofits or local churches that have chosen to adopt upwards of 35 different families.”
At the time of receiving their match, they will receive the first name initial of the student, their age and gender, along with clothing and shoe sizes and what gift the child asked for. The coordinator noted that popular requests she has seen this year include Hello Kitty blankets or toys, as well as Spider-Man and Superman toys.
As of Nov. 12, the Angel Tree Project still needs donors for 20 families, said Bracamontes.
“For the most part, we always find those donors, but a lot of times it comes down to our district staff members that have to group together as a department or even a campus principal will group together their staff to help us close that gap,” she explained.
Although staff members will come together in the time of need to ensure that families receive gifts, many times, Bracamontes continued, teachers, principals and other staff members will sign up to be donors themselves to aid the district’s families.
There are two requirements for the donations: the first is that each item within the gift cost no more than $50 and that they come unwrapped.
Because of this, the Angel Tree Project needs approximately 300 rolls of wrapping paper and tape, 200 gift bags and 200 packs of tissue paper. All of which, including the gift donations, are required to be dropped off by Dec. 6 at the Hays CISD Academic Support Center, located at 21003 IH-35 in Kyle.
All gifts will be given out by the campus counselors at their own timeline, but at least a week before Christmas break, said Bracamontes.
Previously, the project served 639 students and this year, there are already 683 students adopted. This number does not include the other 20 families that have yet to be matched.
For those interested, visit www.hayscisd.net/ AngelTree to sign up and receive a family match the same day or call a campus and ask to speak to the counselor about the project.
