An annual Broad View Elementary School tradition yields a well-dressed Christmas tree adorned in hats, scarves and gloves of every shape, size and color — and even one shaped like Sponge Bob Square Pants. The donated items will warm families in need.

The Department of Social and Health Services distributed the donated hats, scarves and gloves to Oak Harbor families. Collecting items like these allows all students to participate in giving back to the community.

The students collected 257 items total, according to Kris Bishop, a Broad View Elementary teacher who led the project. These items included 148 gloves and mittens, 97 hats, nine scarves, two pairs of socks and one pair of earmuffs.

“They (DSHS) were very pleased to receive them and are happy to give them out to their needy families that come in during the holiday season,” Bishop said.

As students Ruby Camarena, Bronwyn Blakley and Alex Felger placed more items on the tree, Blakley said that it felt “awesome” to help out fellow community members.

Felger said he and his family have a lot of extra hats at their house that no one is using so he was glad to have somewhere to donate the items.

The items were donated to DSHS right before winter break began.

Crescent Harbor Elementary, Hillcrest Elementary and both middle schools each adopted families from their own schools, providing gifts and food for Christmas.

Crescent Harbor, Olympic View and Oak Harbor elementary schools donated presents to homeless children through Holiday House, and the district office staff donated dozens of gifts for children through Soroptimist International of Oak Harbor Tree of Hope.