GEORGETOWN — For the 25th straight year, Sussex Academy students and staff have supported the needs of school families through its Giving Tree Project.

Since Sussex Academy’s founding in 2000, its teachers, nurses and counselors have worked together to identify eight to 10 families with students in the elementary, middle and high schools in financial need as Giving Tree recipients.

The Giving Tree provides essential basic needs including toilet paper, toothpaste and soap so that parents can direct their resources to gifts or a special holiday meal their families will enjoy.

This year, staff identified 12 families in need of assistance, the largest number of families served to date.

Sussex Academy’s student-led Interact Club members Morgan Leeper and Shannon McLaughlin helped advertise the project, count student Dress Down Day donations and sorted items. 

Student Services teaching assistants Jenna Davis, Emma Mullen and Jayani Boopathi decorated and delivered collection boxes and gathered and organized items.

The Sussex Academy Scrub Club, led by students Caitlin Redick and Kaylie Pederson, also assembled Brightness Bags for each Giving Tree Project student with personal items and other fun trinkets.

In addition to the Brightness Bags and Harry K Holiday Meal Boxes, each Giving Tree family received household goods and gift cards to Wal-Mart worth over $250. Gift cards were purchased with money collected from Dress Down Day and donations from Sussex Academy families and friends.

Head of School Kyle Bentley said community service is an important part of the Sussex Academy experience.

"We could not be prouder of the student and teacher leaders for continuing this tradition of giving back to our community members in need during the holiday season,” Bentley said.