The University of New Mexico’s Giving Tree is not your average holiday tree, instead it’s decorated with 120 candy canes for the annual ASUNM Community Experience tradition.
Attached to each candy cane is a tag that lists a gift for a child in need within our community.
“It’s the best feeling in the world when you’re little and receive a gift, even though it might just be as simple as a pair of gloves, I can see them being so excited,” Junior, Lynn Midani said.
A few weeks before the holiday break, ASUNM hosted a launch party to help encourage students, staff and faculty to take a candy cane and buy a gift.
“Each candy cane corresponds to a different non-profit in our community and its needs,” Midani said.
ASUNM partnered with the UNM Children’s Hospital, Casa Q and Albuquerque Public Schools Title I; all the gifts will be distributed to children at each organization this week.
“I think it’s really important for us to recognize not everyone has a Christmas tree or gifts to come home to, so UNM students coming together to provide gifts for them is very impactful,” Senior, Brooke Martinez said.