Students and staff members in the Shoreham-Wading River Central School District work throughout the school year on many charitable projects and their efforts swelled this holiday season.

At both Miller Avenue and Wading River schools, students and staff took part in the Salvation Army’s traditional Angel Tree, a program designed to enable community members to provide clothing and toys to specific children in need. Second-grade teacher Alice Steinbrecher and fifth-grade teacher Adrian Gilmore coordinated the program at each school and distributed approximately 100 angel tags per building.

Prodell Middle School Student Council and National Junior Honor Society members, under the leadership of advisers Maria Lovasco and Kim Avelin and social worker Andrea Monz, teamed up with students and staff from Shoreham-Wading River High School to spread cheer to local families with their Holiday Giving Tree, which was filled with ornaments anonymously listing a child’s wishes for the holidays.

“Compassion and empathy are lifelong skills,” said Gilmore. “When children learn at a young age to give to those in their greater community, they acquire those skills.” Added Monz, “We have an amazing Shoreham-Wading River community and staff who really go above and beyond in making sure these families have a wonderful holiday.”