The Catholic Campus Center at Washburn University is currently hosting their annual Giving Tree Project. The first Giving Tree Project took place in 2002 and was started to help Topeka children in need have a great holiday season. The children range from newborns to thirteen year olds. 

The theme this year is “The Gift of Giving Back” and the Catholic Campus Center is giving gifts to Let’s Help, Door Step and The Topeka Rescue Mission. Through this project, students, faculty and staff can all come together to help children in need. 

This year’s Giving Tree Project began on Nov. 7th and will be going on until noon on Dec. 5th. One can find giving trees in various places around campus including the Catholic Campus Center, International House, the Radiology Department, Residential Living, the Leadership Institute and the School of Nursing. One can also find one in the SRWC and WSGA office. On these trees there are tags for boys and girls with the gift they are asking for. One can stop by and pick one out and then return the gift unwrapped along with the tag to any of the places with a tree.

Shelby Ferguson, junior exercise physiology major, has been in charge of this project for two years. 

“I think it’s important that we help children in need during the holiday season that would otherwise go without gifts. The Christmas season is a season of giving,” Ferguson said. “Personally, I believe in and am interested in volunteering and giving back. I love children and seeing the smiles on their faces after they get these gifts is something you will never forget.” 

It is great to see Washburn University students getting involved with this project. They are all spreading joy and hope amongst the children of Topeka. This project makes it easy for people to give to the community. Keep one’s eyes open for these trees and try to get involved with The Giving Project this season.