Holiday gift program for Princeton ISD families opens applications; adoptions and food drive start Oct. 26

Princeton ISD's holiday assistance program is taking applications from families who need help with Christmas gifts and a holiday meal, and the district says sponsors can start adopting children later this month.

The program, called Princeton Gives, opened applications Wednesday, Oct. 14, according to the district's program page. Families do not apply online. Applications come from each child's campus counselor, and eligibility is based on financial need through that counselor referral. Princeton ISD students qualify, along with younger brothers and sisters who are not yet in school.

Key dates

The district lists this calendar:

• Oct. 14: applications open
• Oct. 26: child adoptions and the food drive begin
• Nov. 18: applications close
• Nov. 20: food drive ends
• Dec. 7: gift drop-off begins

The Princeton Herald, in a story Thursday, gave Nov. 20 as the application deadline and Oct. 27 as the food drive start. Families should confirm dates with their counselor.

How to help

Sponsors can pick a child from the online list or from a tree at Peoples Bank, 100 Cole St.; SouthState Bank, 1490 Princeton Oaks Drive; the Princeton-Lowry Crossing Chamber of Commerce, 123 W. Princeton Drive; or Culleoka Water Supply Corp., 3388 FM 982. Businesses, groups and families can take on a whole family by choosing every child with the same family number.

The suggested gift amount is $75 per child. People who would rather not shop can pay that amount through the district's online payment portal, and Princeton ISD employees can spread it across 12 paychecks from January through July. Cash and check donations are accepted at any campus, the administration office and the same four tree locations. Checks go to the Princeton Lions Club.

Gifts must be new, unwrapped and labeled with the child's assigned family and child numbers. They go to the Princeton ISD Administration Building, 804 Mabel Ave.

From 'Fill the Bus' to the Lions Club

Princeton Gives started as the transportation department's "Fill the Bus" drive, the district says, and the Princeton Lions Club now runs it as its signature local service project. The Herald reported that the program was known as Angel Tree for 17 years before taking its current name last year.

Questions go to the child's campus counselor; details are at princetonisd.net under Parent Resources.

Sources

princetonisd.net

princetonherald.com