The Hartley Sentinel-The Everly/Royal News - Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties

Patrons of the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School District are being called on to spread a little Christmas cheer.

The H-M-S Giving Tree project has returned for a second year and is in need of donors. Those who'd like to contribute can do so by snagging an ornament off a tree at designated locations in Hartley, Melvin or Sanborn, then purchasing gifts and returning them for those in need.

The project is once again being led by H-M-S High School counselor Kim Spier and Jenna Hemiller, wife of H-M-S High School Principal Nate Hemiller. It received resounding support in 2019 during its inaugural year thanks to generous community contributions that served 44 children in 14 different families.

"This year we're hoping to help 49 children in 19 families," said Hemiller. "So far it's just been a different year. People are not going into businesses as often right now because of the pandemic, so that's the big push right now. We need to get all the ornaments picked up."

The ornaments are in the form of paper cards hung on trees in each community. They include the child's age, a wish list and information about what size of clothes they wear if they're requesting new attire.

Hemiller said local community organizations are contributing like last year. She and Spier have also sought help from H-M-S Parents In Education, and a daddy/daughter dance fundraiser last spring generated enough money to purchase H-M-S Hawks apparel for each child.

"I think it's been going good," Hemiller said of the response.

Ornaments still remain on trees at five locations: Savings Bank, Treimer's Insurance Agency and United Community Bank in Hartley; Iowa State Bank in Sanborn; and JR's in Melvin. Hemiller noted people can use the drive-thru at the banks to pick an ornament from the comforts of their cars.

Gifts are due back to the H-M-S Giving Tree locations by Thursday, Dec. 10, and the families will pick up the gifts on Monday, Dec. 14.

NICK PEDLEY/SENTINEL-NEWS

The paper cards hung on trees in each community include the child's age, a wish list and information about what size of clothes they wear if they're requesting new attire.

Hemiller said the project was started last year following a conversation between coworkers about a little boy in the community that didn't have a warm coat. Inspiration was also pulled from another community that has been doing a similar project for more than two decades.

Hemiller said community members recommend recipient families, and ultimately parents make the decision if they are included or not. She noted success of the H-M-S Giving Tree project hinges on the H-M-S community's support and was confident local residents would come through just like last year.

"I had a mom reach out to me personally and told me, 'Wow, this year more than ever, something like this is so helpful,' " she said. "We would like to keep it going as long as we possibly can if there's interest and support in the community to do it. It's a fun thing to do to help out during the holidays."