By Kathy Onorato
Wiscasset High School students and staff are hoping to make the holidays a little merrier for struggling families through its 100 Points of Light program.
For the past 11 years the Wiscasset High School Student Council, has sponsored the gift-giving program. Annually the student council adopts local families and places the items the families need for Christmas on cards.
The cards are then attached to a string of lights shaped like a Christmas tree. Student and staff take cards from the tree and purchase the items. This year Deb Pooler, Student Council Advisor said there are 82 gift requests on the tree.
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Wiscasset High School students (from left) Brooke Howard, Nathan Austin, and Mason Whitaker select gift tags from the 100 Points of Light tree. The program allows students and staff to buy gifts as part the student council’s campaign to help two needy families this Christmas. (Kathy Onorato photo) |
“This is the most giving place to work,” Pooler said. Pooler said in each of the previous year’s all the tags have been taken and is confident this year will be no different.
Staff and students take great pride in the gifts they purchase, she said. “The gifts come back beautifully wrapped. Above and beyond expectations,” she said.
This year Pooler said the school has adopted two families. One is a local family with six children, in which a job loss in the family has caused financial burdens. The other is a military family somewhere in Maine with three children whose father has been deployed to Afghanistan.
Many of the requested items are essential items like hats, mittens, coats, socks, and underwear; things many people take for granted Taylor said.
“I feel like everyone should have a chance. We don’t realize how privileged we are to have what we have,” said Nate Austin, a student council member.
Senior Logan Grover has been involved with the Points of Light program all four years of high school. He said his fellow students don’t need any prompting to take a card. “We have one of the most generous schools where people understand the importance of giving,” Grover said.
Grover said in past years he has bought gifts ranging from basketballs to socks. “Sometimes I choose to buy a gift to entertain and other times I look for something to help keep someone warm,” he said.
Now matter where the families in need may live, Grover said “It’s gratifying to know you helped someone out. Giving has no boundaries.” he said.
