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Announcer: Welcome to Mondays with Maria, presented by ADDITION Financial Credit Union. Here's OCPS Superintendent Dr. Maria Vasquez.
Maria Vazquez: Hello everyone. We're on the road again and this time we are at the OCPS Warehouse and Distribution Center, but it looks like it's been turned into a temporary toy workshop. The elves are busy at work to make sure no child is forgotten. Actually, they are our district social workers who are putting together bags of donated items from our partners in education to give to students before winter break as their holiday gifts this year. This is so amazing. I'm here today with Wanda Cocco, administrator with the District Information Office. Wanda, we've had this special project Angel Tree Project for many, many years, and you have been instrumental in helping it grow each and every year. Can you tell us a little bit about this very special program?
Wanda Cocco: Absolutely. Thank you, Dr. Vasquez. So the Angel Tree Project is ran by the social workers collaborating with our employees. We serve over 1000 students district wide.
Maria Vazquez: Oh, that's amazing. And this is something that is very near and dear to your heart. Why?
Wanda Cocco: It really is, it's a way to give back, right? To pay it forward. We don't always have as district employees the opportunity to be in the classroom and make that connection, especially with our children most in need. And so this is a way where we can donate toys and bring smiles and joy to the children at our schools.
Maria Vazquez: Well, this is the season of giving, and thank you for making this happen for our children.
LaCara Crocker: We are having a gift wrapping party for our angel tree gifts that were donated to OCPS. The Angel Tree Project is about giving back to our families here in OCPS. And so staff and other community members can take angel tree tags and buy gifts for our students here in OCPS. This initiative really helps our MVP family, so that stands for McKinney Bento program. And so these are students who are experiencing homelessness and don't have a fixed or regular stable housing living situation. So these gifts really help support those students and help those families give them gifts during this time of need.
Juliane Cross: The Angel Tree Initiative is an exciting initiative that serves a majority of title one students across our district. Title One students are considered students that attend schools where those students, 40% of those students fall at or below the poverty line. I believe this program will impact our children across the district dramatically. Several of our, our families struggle from day to day to be able to meet their family's financial needs. So to meet the needs on top of trying to buy seasonal gifts for their families can be really challenging. So this program helps to put a smile on our children's faces.
LaCara Crocker: In my experience here for eight years, this has grown tremendously and we've been able to provide for more and more families every single year.
Juliane Cross: Thank you to those that donated to this awesome initiative. And happy holidays to all.
Maria Vazquez: This is the season of giving and we are so excited that we will put smiles on our children's faces with all those gifts.
Wanda Cocco: Thank you to everyone who gave this year and continue to give Every single year, we are still accepting donations to the Text to Give campaign. All proceeds provide holiday gifts to students experiencing poverty and homelessness. You can give safely and securely by texting OCPS Angel to 4 1 4 4 4. Again, that's OCPS Angel to 4 1 4 4 4.
Maria Vazquez: Thank you all for watching. We wish each and every one of you a happy and healthy holiday season with family and friends. We'll see you next year in 2025.
Ensemble: Happy Holidays.
Announcer: For extended conversation on today's topic, listen to the Mondays with Maria podcast available wherever you get your podcasts. Mondays with Maria is presented by Addition Financial Credit Union. Count us in for every step of your financial journey. Learn more at Additionfi.com. For more OCPS news and information, visit TheSlice.OCPS.net. I'm your announcer. Kaleb Priester, a senior at Jones High School. Thanks for watching and have a great holiday break.