The spirit of giving is alive and well at McHenry Community High School as faculty, students, staff and community partners worked together to bring a happy holiday to those in need.
One of those efforts, the annual Giving Tree, provided gifts for 66 students – 43 families – in the school community. The project raised more than $2,300 in donations and collected more than 264 gifts.
In addition to coordinating the Giving Tree, MCHS participates in other holiday projects. On Sunday, a large group of MCHS volunteers helped for the McHenry Area Rotary Secret Santa program. Earlier this month, Key Club members wrapped gifts for a McHenry Kiwanis giving program.
For the Giving Tree program, student services staff – specifically School Social Worker Veronica Eggert and School Counselor JR Bocian – started the annual tradition nearly 20 years ago. It began with supporting about 10 families and has grown each year.
“This is a huge community effort,” Eggert said. “It takes a village and without the village this would not be successful.”
Contributions for the program come from MCHS faculty, students and staff, the McHenry High School Foundation, National Honor Society, Key Club, McHenry Police Department, Cobra 31 Foundation, community members and The Bremer Team, Keller Williams Success Realty.
Families picked up gifts at Freshman Campus during the week before Winter Break.
