As the season of giving draws to an end and charitable New Year’s resolutions lose steam, the Bearden Interclub Council aims to provide an accessible outlet for clubs and classes to try to preserve that spirit and donate toward a greater good.
They are introducing the first annual “Giving Trees for Martin Luther King Jr.” donation drive – a school-wide donation project allowing clubs to raise donations for a cause of their choice with donation-themed decorations hung on trees “planted” in the West Mall. Interclub Council co-president Ella Eakins is excited to catalyze a positive impact to support the community during the year’s coldest months.
“We want to do something because this time of year can be hard for people,” Eakins said.
Eakins concedes that the extreme winter weather that sparked the project’s conception is also the reason it has taken so long to implement.
“In years past, it’s been snowing and so we’ve had issues executing it,” she said. “This year, it really came down to us putting our heads together.”
To combat the unpredictable winter weather, the board decided that their program shouldn’t be limited to one day, but could instead span an entire month – from Jan. 12 to Feb. 13. Beyond the potential support for in-need communities suffering due to winter weather, the timing also allows the program to highlight the efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“We’ve always wanted to do something to honor Dr. King,” club sponsor Dr. Angelia Ford said. “This drive opens a door to potentially implement Dr. King’s heart within our own school.”
Though the act of a school-wide service drive is nothing new, the project’s presentation is undoubtedly unique. The concept was inspired when Dr. Ford visited her sister’s elementary school and was delighted to find the hallways lined with evergreens decked with warm gloves and new socks. Inspired by the eccentric forest and the lesson of selfless giving presented in Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree, Ford knew that a similar idea needed to be implemented at her home base.
While Silverstein’s The Giving Tree ends with a stump, Dr. Ford hopes that this project inspires the growth of an entire forest.
“I spent some time going around to clubs explaining it and helping them figure out ways to accomplish their goals,” Dr. Ford said.
Potential donation items include care packages for homeless shelters, assisted living homes, and veteran societies; treats and toys for dog shelters; and school supplies for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. The extended range of trees was intentional, allowing each tree to be truly representative of its club’s goals.
Dr. Ford and her team acknowledge that it can take time for big projects such as this to catch on, which is why the centralized location and eye-catching decor are of utmost importance.
“When they [the clubs] see one or two groups do it… then the rest will follow that lead,” Dr. Ford said.
Thanks to the seeds planted by the Interclub Council, a few trees have already begun to sprout.
One of the first clubs to sign up for a tree is National Honors Society (NHS) with a senior citizen-care tree. President Mery Diaz is excited to bring cheer to Echo Ridge nursing home with the help of student-written greeting cards.
“We’re hoping to write around fifty to seventy-five cards,” Diaz said.
NHS is offering service hours students to those who participate. Providing incentives for students in order to participate is a great way to get started, but Dr. Ford said she hopes that won’t be necessary for long.
“We know our forests will continue to grow each year, so it’s okay if there’s just a few trees in the forest this year and next year there will be more,” Dr. Ford said.
If you or your club is interested in fostering a tree of your own, please see Dr. Ford in Room 326 for more information.