AEA members share their time, talent, and money,
making the holidays a little brighter…

Bell ringing for the Salvation Army has become an annual tradition for our members. This year all the slots filled before all members wanting to volunteer with their families could sign up. Additional time slots were requested and filled in less than an hour. While bell ringing seems to be popular, many of our members are instilling a love for giving in the following ways:

• Baking cookies for Harbor House and the Emergency Shelter
• Purchasing books for the APL (Appleton Public Library) Give a Book Campaign
• Creating cards and purchasing gifts for men/women serving our country
• Distributing household items and clothes to families attending the school
• Donating books to the Salvation Army
• Selecting and purchasing items needed for the Emergency Shelter off the Christmas tree at
• Buying and donating toys for the Toys For Tots Program
• Going green by giving appliances no longer needed to families
• Opting out of exchanging family gifts and using the funds to purchase presents for others.
• Giving to local charities (American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Children with Cancer, Heifer International, Humane Society, and more

The following schools are adopting families in the community:

• Appleton East High School
• Appleton West High School
• Appleton North High School
• Classical School
• Ferber Elementary School
• Franklin Elementary School
• Houdini Elementary School
• Huntley Elementary School
• Jefferson Elementary School
• Johnston/Montessori Schools
• McKinley Elementary School

We thank the Appleton Community for not only letting us teach children but accepting our gifts, and hope our list of ideas will inspire others to make the world a better place,

Thank you

December 22, 2008