Last year, Roosevelt’s Student Council founded their first Charity program that is entirely student led. This would be The Giving Tree! Last year, they served over 70 students across local elementary and middle schools George, Peninsula, Chief Joseph, James John, Sitton and Astor. This year they have expanded to also partner with Cesar Chavez and almost doubled the impact with over 135 students signed up!
The Giving Tree program has two different forms, one for parents to fill out requesting what they need for their child and a second form for volunteers to sign up with contact information. Volunteers then receive an email partnering them up with an anonymous student. Gifts are then due at the front office of Roosevelt unwrapped and numbered! This year they are due by December 12th! This is because the student council hosts a wrapping event with hot chocolate and holiday music to celebrate what they have accomplished and finish one of the last steps of the charity process!
One of student councils main goals last year was to be able to expand outreach to our local community. Jasmin Reyes-Contreras, one of the organizers and founder of The Giving Tree described her reason for starting it, “I have translated my passion for my community through The Giving Tree by showing North Portland action”, then she expanded on her interpretation of action as being able to “help create an opportunity for others to make a difference in the community.” The Giving Tree can be used as an example to the broader Roosevelt student body that if we are given an opportunity to support our local community, we should take it! It also shows the community that as Jasmin says, “we are serious about making a true impact”.
Although it can be tough running a charity event as a small group of high schoolers it is certainly worth it to know that as a Roosevelt community we can make a difference in our community. For this reason, I thank everyone who volunteered and supported and hope that anyone reading this article will watch out for the opportunity to support The Giving Tree program next year!
