The Brown family – Mika, left (age 6), mom Shawna and Carson (age 8) help organize gifts at Timber Trail Elementary to be given to families at the Crisis Center. (Photo by Lisa Crockett)

By Lisa Crockett

Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) students and their families donated nearly $4,500 to a holiday campaign run by student leaders to help four families in crisis this December. The 21 fourth and fifth graders who comprise the “Timber Team” (TTE’s equivalent of a student council) chose to assist four families through the Women’s Crisis and Family Outreach Center. They named the holiday drive “Gifts from the Heart.” The students were led by Lisa Towne, a Castle Pines resident and owner of Little Italy restaurant, and their faculty advisor, Kristen WardBrown.

“Timber Trail Elementary was such a strong supporter this year – it was wonderful to know that the kids at the school were so excited,” said Heather Orr, the center’s volunteer and events coordinator. “They have done a fantastic job gathering things for these families.”

Each classroom at the school from second to fifth grade collected money and purchased gifts for an individual within a family of four. The Timber Team introduced students to the giving campaign in early December and when donations were in, volunteer parents purchased items from a wish list of wants and needs for each person.

“It was really fun to do the assembly,” said Timber Team member and fifth grader Ally Pfeiffer. “My class collected donations for an eight-year-old boy. He’s not so far from my own age and it was really cool to see that he’ll be getting things that he will be able to enjoy.”

Kindergarten and first grade classes collected donations to purchase grocery gift cards, gas gift cards and a holiday meal. “We were able to purchase all the ‘needs’ on the wish list for every person and many of the ‘wants,’” said WardBrown. “We couldn’t have pulled off this outstanding philanthropic event without the continued support of the wonderful students, parents and staff from Timber Trail Elementary.”

Items that will appear under the tree for these families will include everything from socks and warm coats to Legos, iPods and video games. After all the purchases were made, donations were organized by parent volunteers and then given, unwrapped, to the families. Gifts for mothers are wrapped by Crisis Center employees so she has some surprises for the holiday as well. In addition, families will receive a $125 gift card to King Soopers (purchased from the TTEA, so a small percentage benefits TTEA fundraising efforts) and a $50 Shell gas card.

“Domestic violence is the number one crime in Douglas County,” said Orr. “This year we’re helping a total of 100 families and we really want to express our appreciate to Kristen WardBrown and Lisa Towne. We really appreciate everything they’ve done.”

Families eligible for assistance from the Crisis Center at Christmas are families that have received services at the center during the past 12 months. For more information on The Women’s Crisis and Family Outreach Center, visit www.twcfoc.org. A 24-hour crisis hotline is also available at 303-688-8484.

Students on the Timber Team – Timber Trail Elementary’s student council – organized a donation drive to benefit families at the Women’s Crisis and Family Outreach Center. (Photo Courtesy of Sarah Phillips)