WILTON — The tree in the hallway of the G. D. Cushing School was covered with paper ornaments, each a request for a piece of clothing for a local girl or boy.

“It was loaded but a lot have been taken,” said second-grade teacher Pam Brooks. However, there were still many needs represented by the paper ornaments Monday in the teachers’ annual “Giving Tree Program.”

The teachers sought help in filling the need for clothing such as boots, mittens, socks and coats for children at both Cushing and Academy Hill schools. Last year, teachers received more than 200 requests for clothing and asked the community to help fill those needs.

Community members can go to the school, select a tag from the tree, purchase the item and return it in a gift bag. Organizers were hoping to have the items returned by Wednesday, but have moved the date to Friday.

Many community members have given cash donations. Regardless of what’s left on the tree, the requests will be met, Brooks said. The cash donations will be used and Brooks will seek other ways to make sure each child receives the gift needed, she said.

After making several calls to friends over the weekend, Brooks said she realized there are many groups seeking help to accomplish worthy goals. She said there is a limit to what people can give, especially in light of current unemployment in the area, but the needs are high too.

“There’s a lot of needy children,” she said. The teachers want to be sure children have what they need to go outside this winter and remain healthy.

The need for the Giving Tree is as great as it was last year, with at least as many requests, according to Wilton Principal Darlene Paine. Almost 70 percent of Academy Hill and 75 percent of Cushing students qualify for the free or reduced-fee lunch program.

“Wilton has had the highest percentage of eligible students in the school district for the past two years,” she said in a release about the program.

For more information about the Giving Tree Project, call the Cushing school at 645-2442 or Academy Hill at 645-4488 or stop by either school to choose an ornament.

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