In the busy commons of Wenatchee High School, a modest-sized Christmas tree sits lit and decorated. This is WHS’s Giving Tree. On this Giving Tree, students’ wishes hang written on paper snowflake ornaments. Anybody can make a holiday wish come true by taking a student’s wish off the tree, purchasing the wish written on the ornament, and turning a gift into the Associated Student Body office.

The idea for a Giving Tree at WHS occurred to sophomore Alexandra Sinay-Smith when her church put on a similar activity. At WHS, it will help the school community get into the spirit of giving, she hopes. “I heard that it helped out a lot of families in need, and I thought we should do it at the high school,” Sinay-Smith said.

The ultimate goal of this project is to bring the high school closer, and encourage generosity in the school. “We want our students to give to each other,” Sinay-Smith said.

The Giving Tree is a part of the Winter Wishes program, brought back by this year’s ASB. More than 1,000 winter wishes were submitted by students, and more than 100 currently hang on the Giving Tree, according to Sinay-Smith. Wishes on the Giving Tree vary from sports equipment to winter clothing. Some wishes that were submitted by students will not be hung on the Giving Tree, but will be fulfilled by the ASB in an assembly Dec. 19, Sinay-Smith said.

The due date for fulfilling wishes that were drawn from the Giving Tree is Dec. 12. The gifts should be turned into the ASB office unwrapped. Gifts will be given to recipients the week of Dec. 15, or during the winter assembly, depending on the type of wish that was submitted.