As the year draws to a close and the nights grow cold people prepare for the holiday season. This is a time of traditions and of giving these two elements come together this year at SRJC with the schools participation in the Volunteer Center of Sonoma county’s Secret Santa/Giving Tree Project.

The project gives staff and students the opportunity to select needy children to help by picking a heart shaped ornament from a Christmas tree. Families that will benefit from the trees on campus are selected from programs including EOPS, Disability Resources, CalWORKs and the Children’s Center.

This is the sixth year that SRJC has participated in the program, and the JC takes pride in filling every request the school has received. This year there are more than 360 hearts decorating the trees located at both the Santa Rosa and Petaluma campuses.  One tree is located on the Petaluma campus in Jacobs Hall. The other two trees are on the Santa Rosa Campus and are located in the Student Affairs Lobby at the Bertolini Student Center and the Entrance Lobby in Bailey Hall.

People interested in participating in the program are encouraged to select a heart from one of the trees.  Attached to the heart will be a gift request which should be purchased, gift wrapped and returned to the school by Dec. 8.  Gifts can be dropped off at the President’s Office or Student Affairs Office on the Santa Rosa Campus. In Petaluma bring gifts to the  Admission & Records Office.