Schools

PHS Alum Helps Fellow Grads Grant 'Winter Wishes' for Students in Need

Puyallup High School graduate Lauren Adler is rallying the community together to grant 2200 holiday wishes for students in need.

Some kids wish for an Xbox or iPad for Christmas. Others hope for warm clothes, grocery money, a backpack or eyeglasses.

To help struggling local students during the holiday season, Puyallup High School’s ASB leadership team is hosting its annual Winter Wishes gift program and needs some extra help from the community this year to meet the need.

That’s what inspired PHS grad and former ASB president Lauren Adler to launch the Puyallup High School Alumni Give Back Facebook page, which has connected current students to over 150 people in the community ready to give back.

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“[Winter Wishes] is bringing alumni back together to say that thank you to a school that gave us a lot of opportunity to be involved in the community and molded us into who we are today,” said Adler. “I just hope we can use this Facebook page to support the current Vikings and make their holidays a little brighter, and make their wishes come true.”

After Adler started the Facebook page last week, she’s watched the page grow every day with new “likes” and shares. Through the Facebook page, Adler acts as a liason to the Puyallup High School leadership team by announcing what donations are being accepted and how to get them to the school. The page also functions as a community hub to celebrate connecting alumni who want to give back to PHS.

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There are 2200 requests for Winter Wishes needs this year and students will receive their gifts during a special holiday assembly on Dec. 14. Last year, the ASB team was only able to meet about half the demand and, with Adler’s help, is pushing to meet all the needs this year.

The most common asks in the Winter Wishes program is driver’s education tuition, which can cost the average family about $500 per student. The next most common wish was for a Fred Meyer or Safeway gift certificate, followed by gasoline gift cards. Many students also asked for class rings or lettermen jackets—they want to show off school pride, but just can’t afford to.

Adler said that since launching the Facebook page, 10 people have already committed to donating multiple items.

“It’s just a drop in the bucket of need, and with only about 2 weeks left in the program, we really need support,” she said.

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If you’re interested in donating to the Puyallup High School Winter Wishes Program, 'like' Puyallup High School Alumni Give Back on Facebook. You can also email Lauren Adler at AdlerLN@comcast.net or call her at 253-820-8843.


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