ST. GEORGE — Students from Dixie High School came together Monday evening to help brighten the holidays for needy children.
Dixie High School’s “Angel Tree” project is a long-running tradition for the school that relies directly on the generosity of the student body to donate money and time for KONY 99.9 FM’s “Coins for Kids” program.
This year, donations resulted in about $10,000, enough to bring Christmas to approximately 100 children who may have otherwise gone without gifts.
The school displays its own Angel Tree with the names of children to benefit from the fund drive.
This year’s donation drive received a new twist, allowing groups of students to “adopt” a child and then go shopping for them.
Students met at the Bloomington Wal-Mart to go shopping for individual children, picking out gifts representing their needs and wants, ranging from clothing to skateboards.
“They’ve been very excited to have that personal connection,” Dixie High School Principal Sharla Campbell said. “They do say this is so much more fun shopping for a specific child rather than just donating lunch money or whatever they can do.”
Kids gathered in groups from various school classes, clubs and sports teams and meandered the store, excitedly choosing gifts.
“Our high school kids get as much from as it as the little ones who get the presents,” Campbell said.
“It’s cool to see everyone from the school out here all together. It brings us together,” Dixie High student Matt Jensen said after making the rounds to choose presents for his “adoptee.”
Some students even opted to fund a child’s gift list entirely from their own pocket.
“Dixie kids are very generous, and they are excited to do something good,” Campbell said
Once the gifts are prepared and labeled, they will be handed off to Coins for Kids for distribution. KONY runs the yearly program and selects families in need through a screening process to provide for thousands of kids with the help of the community.
The Angel Tree project is but one of many service projects in which Dixie High students are encouraged to participate throughout the year.
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Dixie High School student Tanner Hansen shops for the school's Angel Tree project, St. George, Utah, Dec. 12, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News
Dixie High School students shop for the school's Angel Tree project, St. George, Utah, Dec. 12, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News
Dixie High School students shop for the school's Angel Tree project, St. George, Utah, Dec. 12, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News
Dixie High School students shop for the school's Angel Tree project, St. George, Utah, Dec. 12, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News
Dixie High School students shop for the school's Angel Tree project, St. George, Utah, Dec. 12, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News
Dixie High School students shop for the school's Angel Tree project, St. George, Utah, Dec. 12, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News
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