About two weeks before Christmas, one brightly lit Christmas tree, complete with decorations and topped with a sparkly red-and-gold bow, sat on the stage at Central Elementary School in Cabot. It was the last of two trees to enter the home of a local family, thanks to students, volunteers and faculty at the school.
As a tradition, Central Elementary students each year bring ornaments to fully decorate two trees that have been purchased by the school’s Community in Action team, formerly known as the Parent Teacher Organization. Students decorate the pre-lit trees, which are later picked up by the families in need, during lunch or in the morning after students arrive on campus.
Central Elementary School Principal Bethany Hill said the trees typically go to families in need who have recently moved or who haven’t had time to worry about setting up a Christmas tree in their home.
“I think it teaches our kids service to the community and caring for others — empathy, compassion. All of those things set a good example for our kids,” said school counselor Jacque Howard, who helps find the families who will receive the trees. “I just think our parents and our families here at Central are so loving and so giving, and that is one of the things that make our school so special. … We are always a little family here, and we take care of each other.”
The tradition has been in existence for at least 10 years, Howard said.
Howard said school volunteers box the tree for families and help the families load up the materials to take home.
“If they couldn’t come and get it, we would deliver it to them,” she said.
Sierra Allison, 9, a fourth-grader, said Christmas is about getting together and exchanging presents. She said she hopes the families who have received the trees are glad.
“Some families don’t have enough money to buy ornaments, and they don’t have enough money to buy presents for their family, so we just buy ornaments and put them on the tree for them so at least they have that,” Sierra said. “I hope they feel happy because this may be their first time having a Christmas tree.”
Cailynn Stone, 8, a third-grader, brought a drum ornament that she said her nana believed the family who received the tree would really like.
“They don’t have to spend anything; they just have a beautiful tree there,” Cailynn said.
Natalie Hall, a 10-year-old fourth-grader, said she and her brother, A.J., a second-grader, brought about 50 ornaments from home. Natalie said they needed help putting that many ornaments on the trees and that it was fun decorating with other students.
“It makes families happy because some are less fortunate than us, and so it just makes other families happy when they get trees decorated and everything. That way, they don’t have to go buy ornaments and buy a tree and everything,” Natalie said.
There are many ways to help families this season, said Blake Stone, 10, a fourth-grader who said he brought a Santa ornament for this year’s tree decoration.
“Give to the community center, do a coat and toy drive, and maybe go and give other people presents,” he said.
Last year, Seth Standridge, 9, a fourth-grader, brought two boxes of ornaments, he said.
“[The tradition is important] so you can help donate, and you can also make something look Christmassy and make people happy,” he said. “It means a lot to me because it’s giving and caring. I’m happy that we could donate something.”
Staff writer Syd Hayman can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or shayman@arkansasonline.com.