This holiday season, Thomas College’s JMG Club organized a giving tree in partnership with the Maine Children’s Home for Little Wanderers. Located on the second floor of the Ayotte Center, a Christmas tree had $5 tags on it, representing children in the greater Waterville area who would otherwise not have a gift to open on Christmas. Students, staff, and faculty were encouraged to grab a tag and purchase a gift for a child.

JMG Club President Melinda White ’19 said the tree started out with 30 tags, but because of the generosity of the Thomas community, she had to ask the Maine Children’s Home for Little Wanderers for more tags. Altogether, 50 tags (or 50 children) have been helped. 

“I never expected to have such great success,” said Melinda. “This is a project that I have personally wanted to do for the past two years. It went so well that we have made it a goal to make this an annual event for JMG.” 

“I think that having to go back for more tags just shows the great success and commitment that we have as a Thomas community,” said Melinda. “Overall, Thomas is a very giving community. JMG received email requests multiple times to place more tags out. JMG and Thomas both care about the local community and making an impact where we can throughout greater Waterville.”

Melinda said she is excited to see the pile of gifts once they are ready to be donated to the Maine Children’s Home for Little Wanderers.