OHS takes the season of giving to a whole new level

By Reagan Rozzi

Photo taken by Reagan Rozzi.

Commencing the 2023 holiday season, Owasso houses are aglow with festive lights, lively parades are spread across the town and families are gathering for their trips to the tree farm. Part of the local traditions include high school students taking generosity to the next level during the season of giving. This year, a greater number of school clubs and organizations have contributed to the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree project than ever, with 32 separate parties donating their  time and resources. Fourteen families and 39 angels had been recipients of the OHS volunteers last year, but a school record of 18 families and 47 angels have been totaled for this year. 

The program, established in 1979, is a yearly event held by the Salvation Army. Oklahomans from across the state volunteer to help out these local families in need by “adopting” angels (children within the program who are assigned anonymously) and their Christmas wish lists. Participants then purchase what they can and are granted the option to wrap the gifts; however, the Salvation Army graciously offers to wrap items for those who are unable to do so. 

While volunteer positions are available to anyone with interest, two OHS teachers felt it important to instill this now-annual tradition into the school. Trisha Smith and Maureen Tillinghast of the West Campus serve as the organizers for the Angel Tree project at OHS, and have done so for the past decade.

“We used to do [the program] through National Honor Society…[then] we just started doing it on our own,” Smith shared. 

Smith and Tillinghast emphasize the importance of community involvement and generosity. Specifically, Smith recalled a time when a natural disaster had left her family with very little. Ten years later, she is still immensely grateful for the support shown by the community as her family rebuilt. Because of this life-changing event, Smith now feels that displaying the same selflessness back to Owasso each year is her way of repaying the favor from all those years ago.

Through coworker conversation, other staff members began to show interest in the project, which inspired Smith and Tillinghast to promote the Angel Tree schoolwide. 

Smith and Tillinghast adopt multiple angels from the Barnes Community Center so that the kids can be evenly distributed to the participating groups. Classes and clubs both volunteer for the project, with some students bringing in money as a donation while others choose to designate their personal time towards gift shopping from their angel’s wishlist. The remaining items are bought by the teacher or club sponsor with the collected funds. However, in some cases, staff and students have offered to spend their own money in hopes that they can provide their angels with the best Christmas possible.

Maria Ball, a Spanish teacher, ensures that her classes participate every year in any way that they can. 

“There’s always people that are struggling, and if we can even just give a dollar… it’s just the thought…of giving when we can,” Ball feels. 

The project not only brings the greater Owasso community together but also allows students to form closer relationships with each other. Classmates can hold conversations about who is able to purchase certain items, carpool to the store and even wrap the presents with each other, allowing new friendships to stem. 

Ronda Avila, another Spanish teacher—as well as the Spanish Club’s sponsor—has also participated in the project since its establishment in the high school. 

When asked if her students become excited about the Angel Tree, Avila responded with an immediate “yes.”

“Oh, [the students] do! So much,” Avila smiled. 

Volunteer opportunities such as the Angel Tree instill generous habits in growing students and remind the staff of the importance of consistent community involvement. Any way of giving back can make a difference, and any difference matters. 

During the holiday season, it is important to show gratitude for the blessings we have and generosity by giving in return. Circumstances, especially at this time of the year, differ for each individual, but if time allows, consider adopting your own angel or donating what you can. For more information on ways to give to the organization, visit the Salvation Army website.