*“I think it’s very important that we share with others and take care of our neighbors and community members. Simple things like kitchen towels or deodorant — someone shouldn’t go without those.”
~Lucia Cook
UNM student*
Students in ASUNM Community Experience are helping bring holiday cheer to Albuquerque charities.
In the middle of the SUB Atrium, ASUNM CE has put up the Giving Tree — a large holiday tree decorated with requests for presents from children and families, said Hallee Kells, Community Experience events director.
The Giving Tree has been in the SUB since Nov. 30 and will be there until Dec. 14 at 5 p.m.
The event has been a UNM tradition at least since 2003.
“Since it is a tradition, people start to notice the tree more every year,” Kells said. “We don’t know who is picking up the ornaments, but we seem to get them all back from a wide range of people.”
Kells said ornaments on the tree list the gender, age, initials of the charity, as well as what items the family or child needs. After UNM community members buy the gifts, they are instructed to bring them to the ASUNM office, Room 1016, by Dec. 14.
Kells said CE doesn’t expose the names of people or charities that receive the gifts for privacy reasons.
“Some of the charities are battered women’s shelters, so we don’t want to expose anything about them,” she said.
Jenny Shroba, the CE executive director, said the UNM community is still supporting the Giving Tree despite the tough economy. She said about 30 ornaments are left from the more than 300 ornaments placed on the tree initially.
“Even when times are hard, I think it brings people together,” she said. “Who knows, maybe in our own lifetime there will be a time when we need help. I think if you have the means to do it, you should help. The Giving Tree definitely reinforces that.”
Kells said some common items requested are toiletries, kitchen supplies and toys. Most of the ornaments ask for items under $20.
“Children get really specific sometimes. They’ll say, ‘I want a Spiderman action figure,’ or ‘Barbie’ or ‘toy cars,’” she said. “Sometimes the organizations won’t have specific people, but they’ll know of people that are usually at their centers around the holidays. They’ll guesstimate that they may need bedding or something like that.”
Kells said CE — which has at least four members — make the ornaments from the wish lists provided by local charities.
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“I really like to see students doing this because it’s a simple way to contribute to the community,” Kells said. “You don’t know how much of an impact you’re making by just buying one gift.”
UNM student Lucia Cook said this is the second year she’s participated in the Giving Tree event. She picked up three ornaments this year that asked for items such as shaving cream, razors, deodorant and a manicure set.
“I think it’s very important that we share with others and take care of our neighbors and community members,” Cook said. “Simple things like kitchen towels or deodorant — someone shouldn’t go without those.”
Kells said there are still ways to participate in the Giving Tree if students can’t afford to buy gifts.
“I think it would be appropriate to maybe write a card — you could look at the ornament and find someone your age or a child,” she said. “Something as simple as that would be great. Just keeping them in mind somehow or mentioning it to other people is good, too.”
Shroba said participants can take as many ornaments as they want, and can get more items than the ornament requests. She said the Giving Tree is a simple way to give back to the community.
“I think that you should give to those who don’t have the means to help themselves,” she said. “We’re all very fortunate — we might be struggling through college to make enough for tuition and books, but not being able to have a toy for your child — that’s a little different level. The holiday season brings a time of giving, and the Giving Tree is my favorite event because of that.”
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The Giving Tree
SUB Atrium
Through Dec. 14, 5 p.m.
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