The giving tree

Earlier this month, The Gazette published a notice asking Eastern Iowa schools to nominate school holiday community services projects. A group of reporters voted on the submissions, selecting three projects for publication in the newspaper. The following is one of the nominations we received.

The 14 students in Vicki Spellerberg's Principles of Management class at Maquoketa Valley High School practiced their planning, organizing, implementing, and evaluating skills by establishing a "Giving Tree" in the high school library.

More than 130 hats, mitten, scarves, winter coats, sweatshirts, etc. were collected in October and donated them to the local Operation Santa Claus.  In November, the tree was used to collect 261 non-perishable food items and donated to the local food pantry.

“In December we are collecting puzzle books, games, shampoo, soap and body wash, toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, lotion, and brushes and combs for the residents of the Penn Center,” said Spellerberg, the high school's business education teacher.

Penn Center Inc. is a county care facility for residents ages 22 through 82 who have mental, physical, or emotional issues.

As of early December, more than 100 items have been collected.

“The students and staff at Maquoketa Valley High School have supported us by generously donating items to our Giving Tree each month,” Spellerberg said. “The project has been a great success because it has taught the students how to apply the management skills we are learning in class while doing something very nice for our community.”