Early Learning Preschool Center

During the summer of 2016, we celebrated our 20th Anniversary by sharing books with the community.  With a sign designating the tree in front of our school as a "Giving Tree", we began a new school tradition.  

When the weather turned cool, we decided to keep using our tree as a space for community sharing and filled it with hats and mittens.   As spring brought warm weather, we created family gardening kits to share in the tree.  We have alternated filling the tree with books, hats and mittens or gardening kits ever since, but we're most well-known for keeping the community warm.    Family, friends, neighbors and other nearby businesses contribute hats and mittens, helping us keep the tree well-stocked through the fall and winter.  The tree creates a neighborhood connection and we hope to always continue the tradition.

Those who need warm hats and mittens can keep a little warmer when they help themselves to something from the tree. Passersby smile when they notice it. Many people say that seeing it brightens their day a little.   It's wonderful to see community members getting hats and gloves from it, contributing to it, or just stopping to admire and photograph it. The most rewarding thing to see, though, is the excitement in our students because we're sharing. They watch through the windows and cheer when they see that we've helped someone.