The Giving Tree
What is The Giving Tree?
The Giving Tree is a shop for JMHS students where they can find (at no charge) clothing, shoes, and other necessities as needed. The building that houses The Giving Tree is located behind JMHS' gym in the tan building.
Currently The Giving Tree is not accepting clothes donations, but they are accepting donations of shoes (school & athletic), toiletries, and packaged undergarments (socks & underwear). Monetary donations are welcome anytime. Please contact Ms. Tammy Clark (tclark@cityschools.com) if interested.
The Giving Tree: Where Generosity Meets Need (June, 2022 Newsletter, SAWs Virginia)
"The Giving Tree is a shop where James Monroe High School students can find clothing, shoes, and other necessities as needed free of charge. The lack of suitable clothing can cause unwanted peer pressure, chronic absenteeism, falling behind in coursework and contribute to dropping out before graduation.
When the shop opened, donations began to pour in! Students would find hats, coats, shoes, all sorts of clothing and toiletries. Some items were brand names. With all of its benefits, the Giving Tree store lacked a ramp, which posed a problem for students with ambulatory disabilities. Students in wheelchairs had to be lifted into the store to shop by student helpers. Leslie Leahy, founder, and President of the Ceili Leahy Service Project, reached out to SAWs Virginia to see if we could help to make this a service project for the program’s students. We didn’t hesitate and began to plan for the project. That was March of 2020. Then Covid-19 came ashore, and everything came to a halt. But this spring the planning began again, and the pieces literally came together.
Mr. Ewing, JMHS Carpentry instructor, agreed this would be a good project for his classes. Keith Dye, Operations Manager for SAWs VA, created the design, including a step-by-step guide for constructing and installing the ramp for Mr. Ewing’s students. Mr. Xavier Richardson, the President of Mary Washington Hospital and Stafford Hospital Foundations, enthusiastically agreed to fund the material costs for the ramp.
Finally, after two years of delays, on May 19th the carpentry students of JMHS completed the Giving Tree ramp. 'I can't express enough gratitude to Mr. Ewing and his classes for the planning and constructing [the ramp]. They did it in a short amount of time. This addition will allow access to our physically disabled students. So much is going on at the end of the school year, yet they found time to construct this quality structure. We are very thankful for the design by the community organization SAWS, funding from Mary Washington Healthcare Foundation, and for the Leahy's for acquiring the donation for us,' said Tammy V. Clark, Giving Tree Coordinator.
It's been our pleasure to have played a part." - SAWs Virginia
To read the newsletter that contained the story about the ramp, click the button below.
Gallery of Ramp Project Photos
