Giving Tree

Recently I was given the opportunity to coordinate the giving tree program at North Middlesex. I worked alongside five other members of service learning so it wasn't hard for me to adjust to the new program. The hardest part for me entering this new program was the feeling of being an inexperienced leader in a new program. I felt this way because prior to becoming a member of giving tree I had coordinated the New York service learning trip and I felt as if I had gained enough leadership experience to coordinate a program such as giving tree. I realized however that giving tree is very different from new York and that I would again have to learn how to coordinate successfully much like I had to do to coordinate New York. 

I also felt pressured to work hard due to the fact that our program affects peoples' lives greatly. Throughout the year we would meet regularly and we would discuss fundraising ideas. Fundraising for this program proved difficult because it is hard to raise money for a holiday event before the holiday season. We however heals many successful events prior to the holiday season and that made me felt somewhat secure. However the amount of money that we would have to raise in order to fulfill our goal always proved to be a challenge. It just so happens that I was one of the financial coordinators so I was given the opportunity to worry about funds the most. When we started to get close to the holiday season the rest of the coordinates and I felt as if we needed to raise more money and fast. We were lucky enough to have a lot of our major events towards the end, like Mr. NM, because they brought in a lot of money.

However we still needed more. Money had proven to be the biggest challenge for us because it seemed hard to come by but it was very necessary. We had applied to sponsorships from local businesses but that only brought in a few hundred and that wasn't nearly enough. I was personally put in charge of contacting a local check company that has donated 1000 dollars to our program annually. I attempted to contact them in November but I was unable to talk to them until the week of sorting day due to some miscommunications. I was able to however secure that thousand dollars for the program and it ended up being very necessary. Acquiring this donation proved to be the most difficult moment of giving tree for me personally. There was a lot of pressure on me to acquire this donation and prior to it, I never attempted to receive a donation of this scale. When I received it I was so relieved along with the rest of the group and I finally felt like I was getting the hang of this new program just in time for sorting day. 

Sorting day was the giving tree's sorting and wrapping day. Being in charge of finances meant that I was also in charge of handling the shopping money. Many consider handling the money on sorting day to be the hardest job and after experiencing it first hand I can see why. I spent my whole day crunching numbers and feeling stressed. I barely took a break but it paid off because I had done the job well. We ended the day with money still left over, which was actually a very big deal because again money was a big deal. Not just my station went well however, the event as a whole was regarded as one of the best sorting days ever. It felt so great to hear that and to see what we were able to accomplish. I felt so empowered because I was able to become a literal Santa and supply children with presents. The knowledge that I gained this year in the program makes me very anxious for the program next year. I can't wait to get that feeling of empowerment back again.
Tyler