At Gibe, we believe in the power of community and the joy that comes from giving. This holiday season, our team came together to participate in The Giving Tree Initiative, a wonderful program designed to bring a little extra magic to those who need it most.
What is the Giving Tree Initiative?
The Giving Tree Initiative is a community-driven program that pairs individuals or groups with children and families who are facing financial hardships. Participants are asked to select tags from a “giving tree” – each tag represents a specific gift request, and the goal is to fulfill those wishes so that no one is left without a gift during the holiday season.
Why we chose the Giving Tree Initiative
At Gibe, we understand the importance of giving back to the community, especially during the holidays. This Christmas, our team decided to embrace the opportunity to make a tangible impact through the Giving Tree initiative.
Choosing the gifts
As the majority of the team work remotely, the tags were chosen at random and messaged out to every member of the team. Each team member then carefully chose a gift to fulfill the wishes of the child on the tag, whether that was by purchasing a gift online and getting it delivered directly to the Giving Tree initiative or by doing some Christmas shopping to help find the perfect gift and dropping it down in person to a collection point.
Some of us picked out toys for kids who had asked for a particular stuffed animal or a a requested a theme, whereas others opted for games or outdoor activities.
Being part of the Giving Tree initiative reminded us all of the power of generosity. It also gave us the chance to reflect on the values that drive our work at Gibe —kindness, community, and making a positive impact. We were proud to contribute in our own way, knowing that the gifts we gave would help brighten someone's holiday season.
Our office Giving Tree
We are currently displaying our tags on a beautifully decorated Olive tree in our office. Each tag represents a child's wish that we helped fulfill. It's a fun and meaningful way to make the giving process feel even more festive, as the tree has become a symbol of our collective commitment to spreading some joy this Christmas.
The whole company participated in The Giving Tree and our contributions totalled up to £427 for disadvantaged children this Christmas. From 18 months to 13 years old, hopefully this will give a little smile to those need it most this year.
As we wrap up another year, we are grateful for the opportunity to participate in such a meaningful initiative. The experience of contributing to the Giving Tree has reinforced our commitment to kindness, empathy, and community that we strike for. We look forward to future opportunities to give back to our community and make a positive impact in the year ahead.
