Hamilton School District Looks Back at Holiday Charity Efforts

The may have really topped the list for , but other students, staff and families showed appreciation for the needs of others during the holidays, too.

The schools contributed to charitable organizations and extended acts of kindness within the community and beyond. Following is a summary of activities at each school.

Willow Springs four-year-old kindergartners and their families contributed to the this holiday season. They participated in a service project, “Making Wishes Come True,” that resulted in more than 350 gifts that were distributed through the Sussex Food Pantry to local families.

In addition, the Willow Springs staff raised $300 to assist a family in need.

Lannon Elementary School students, families and staff members collected 50 new hats, gloves and mittens through its Hat and Mitten Tree and donated them to Parents Place in Waukesha.

A barrel of gently-used coats and boots was donated to and 154 items were donated to the Sussex Food Pantry.

The school also honored veterans with a special ceremony in November and created a large handcrafted banner that was delivered to the Veterans’ Administration Hospital in Milwaukee.

Maple Avenue buddy classes in first and third grades earned money by doing extra work at home. A record total of $823.09 was raised and used to purchase items for children served by the Sussex Food Pantry. They contributed items including 49 board or card games and puzzles, 100 miscellaneous toiletries and 55 hats, gloves, mittens, socks and pairs of boots.

Maple Avenue staff members sponsored four families providing gifts, books, games, educational toys, clothing, gift cards, snacks and holiday décor for family members. Also, school staff worked with department stores corporate offices to sponsor two additional families for a total of six families sponsored.

Each student in a fifth grade class was responsible to plan, organize and carry out one act of giving in November and December. Students were asked to think of a Maple Avenue staff member who had a positive impact on their life and, on their own time, meet with that adult and offer their time as a service project. Some students did one-time volunteer activities, while others returned and offered their services weekly. Some plan to continue offering their assistance throughout the year. 

The entire Marcy student body made . Students also collected candy and toiletries to ship overseas.

One kindergarten class collected food for the animal shelter. Two other classes collected mittens.

First grade collected food for the Sussex Food Pantry. The goal was to collect to 150 items and students have already brought in more than 450. 

A second grade class donated food to Sussex Outreach Services. During their winter party they made placemats to give to area senior centers for their holiday dinners. 

Third grade made birthday bags for the food pantry filled with cake mix, candles, frosting and homemade cards from the students. 

Fourth grade classes conducted a food collection for Sussex Outreach Services.

The fifth grade collected money to support Heifer International in the month of December. The students choose which animals they would like to donate, and this sustainable gift supports families around the globe. In the past, students have donated goats, sheep, llamas, chickens, honeybees and more.

Marcy staff raised more than $500 for the Sussex Food Pantry. This money was raised through Jeans for Charity.

Students of Service, or SOS, teamed up with the Christmas Clearing Council, a local organization supporting underprivileged families of Waukesha County, to sponsor 13 local families. Students earned money by completing service jobs at school and at home, and used that money to purchase gifts for their family from a provided wish list. Students also wrapped gifts and created holiday cards for their family. Parent volunteers, staff members and students also helped deliver the gifts directly to the families.

Students from 7 Gold, 7 Red, 8 Blue and grade 6 Spectrum made cards for wounded soldiers at Bethesda and Balboa hospitals.

Students and staff collected $2,500 for the program to send five veterans to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Student Council members decorated a tree at the Milwaukee County Zoo.

Student Council sponsored a joint campaign with Girl Scout Troop #2752 to collect hats, mittens and scarves for Sussex Outreach Services.

In computer class, grade 6 students wrote letters to Marines and sent non-perishable items such as soap, shampoo, gum, etc., with the letters.

Templeton staff members were involved in several activities to support families in need. They sponsored a family and provided gifts, holiday decorations and a Christmas tree. They also collected a Christmas tree, holiday lights, ornaments and holiday decorations to donate to another family. In addition, staff members coordinated a holiday campaign to collect money for the Sussex Food Pantry.

District staff members

Staff members throughout the district adopted families in lieu of exchanging gifts with one another. They provided gifts of toys, games, clothing, food, personal items, household goods and gift certificates for numerous families in need of support.