Liberty residents help needy students through Blott Kids Holiday Project

November 26, 2011 at 12:08a.m.

Liberty

For 30 years, Christmas trees with note cards hanging from their branches have popped up in restaurants, community centers and retail stores around the township.

Looking like Christmas cards on one side, numbers on the other side represent the dire situation in which a growing number of Liberty families find themselves.

“9/23: girl 16 mo,” one of the cards reads, with the number representing a child. Pajamas are all it asks for.

The trees are part of the Blott Kids Holiday Project, allowing community members anonymously to sponsor students at E.J. Blott Elementary School.

The sight of students during recess in the winter without basic necessities such as hats and gloves inspired Gretchen Reed, a retired third-grade Blott teacher for 32 years, to start the project.

The first tree appeared in the township administration building when it had the post office, and consequently, much-higher foot traffic. Reed couldn’t place enough tickets on the tree to keep up with the number of sponsors.

The post office “called me and said, ‘You need to put more tickets on the tree — they’re all gone,’” Reed said.

After retiring 17 years ago, she continued the project even as her health waned as she approached her 80s. She developed a committee to help deliver the trees and cards and to wrap the gifts. Committee members range from former Liberty board of education member Gloria Lang to current township Trustee Jodi Stoyak.

The number of trees dotted throughout the township has increased from that first tree in the administration building to eight this year. And the numbers of students sponsored increased.

When June Smallwood, the township’s parks and recreation director, began her involvement in the project 10 years ago, there were only 50 students. Last year, they serviced more than 148 students. Reed said this year, they are servicing only 67 students, but it is not a final count.

Teachers at Blott provide to the township the names of students who consistently come to class without winter attire. The committee calls the families asking if they would like help for Christmas and what they need. The children are designated a number, which appears on a card with the desired gift. Several cards may ask for different gifts for the same child. And the committee also ensures each child receives an age-appropriate book.

Potential sponsors have until Dec. 15 to pick up a card and drop off an unwrapped gift at the township building. On the 15th, the presents are wrapped and either picked up by the families the next day or delivered to their houses by Liberty police.

Scott Husk, the owner of West Fork Roadhouse restaurant at 3850 Belmont Ave., has had a Christmas tree from Big Brothers, Big Sisters for the past 10 years, but this year a Blott tree joins it.

While the Blott tree sits in the lobby, its branches are emptying of the sponsorship cards because his employees have taken it upon themselves to sponsor one or two of the nameless students.

“It’s sad to see that they need such basic needs,” Tuck said. “But it’s really easy to go above and beyond for the kids.”