Thomas Jefferson’s DECA program hopes to make the holidays a little bit brighter.
DECA's annual fund-raiser brightens season for Spartan families in need.
Some feel that the best way to spread holiday cheer, is donating lots for all to share. Thomas Jefferson’s DECA program strongly believes in this motto throughout the holiday season, and they do their very best to spread the gifts, the goods, and the warmth. This winter, the students and teachers of DECA have continued on a long TJ tradition: Adopt-a-Family.
Every year as the holiday season approaches, the DECA community begins preparing in many different ways to get the word out there about this spectacular opportunity to assist those in need of financial help during the season. Students, teachers and community members are asked to donate anything from books to clothes to toys – any sort of gift – and those donated items will be distributed among a list of TJ community members who have asked for some extra help. DECA Teacher Matt Nicolo believes this to be one of the best community services that DECA participates in all year. “You feel good doing this, and helping others feels good during this time of year. I love being a part of this and I’m proud to be.”
In past years of this service, DECA has chosen only a few families and focused on fulfilling their every wish and giving the kids in the family everything that they wanted. Senior Alex Gustafson, who is helping Nicolo run this community event, has assisted with this project for a few years now, and has seen it change and grow. “This year, rather than just choosing two or three families and giving them everything, there are a bunch of families that were chosen, so more families and more children are going to have a brighter Christmas.” In previous years, DECA has received donations of books, games, toys, toiletries, even bikes, and many of those donations are even new. “It’s definitely the season of giving,” Gustafson said smiling.
During the conclusion of this community service project, the DECA members all pitch in for a “wrapping party.” This takes place during finals week on the last day of the donation process and all the DECA members all chip in to run it smoothly. DECA benefits from this project in more than just having a giving feeling in their hearts; they also can take this with them to the state competition. DECA has four main branches which they have to follow, one of which being a community service project, and this is a perfect example of how TJ gets involved in the community. The main goal throughout this project, however, is just giving everyone a chance to experience a happy holiday season, and making many wishes come true.
This donation fundraiser concludes on Wednesday December 16, and no more donations will be taken after that time. DECA is asking for everyone to pitch in this holiday season and donate to brighten up the less fortunate’s lives. As Gustafson puts it, “It really is a life changing experience for those families.” If you have something to donate, please see Matt Nicolo in room 103.
