WISCASSET — Each year during the holiday season the Wiscasset High School Student Council organizes two major events for the needy in the community.

“This year is very special to the students because the WHS Student Council voted to focus its efforts toward assisting local Maine military families who are struggling with difficult situations during the holidays,” states a news release. “The students even designed their Student Council shirts to be a reminder of all the men and women in the U.S. military who have fought and are still fighting for their country.”

The Student Council shirts are camouflaged with yellow ribbons brightly displayed on the left arm. The Student Council is working with Mark Cater and Kerry Birmingham who are retired military men working for the Maine Military Family Assistance Center. In November, the Student Council organized the Wiscasset High School “Turkey Aid” Project. With the help of the faculty, students were able to collect food for needy military families.

Birmingham came to the high school and spoke with some of the Student Council members and shared with them some of the unique needs that military veterans have during the holidays, as well as the rest of the year.

“The students were very moved by the information and shared it with their teachers and peers,” according to the release.

“I am so proud of these kids and what they are doing,” said Student Council adviser Deb Pooler. “They have talked about the fact that most of them know someone who is just a couple of years older than they are, who is serving in the military now.”

On the first day of December, the Student Council initiated “Operation 100 Points of Light” by “adopting” military families for the holidays. Students used lists of requests by the families to make tags and attach them to a tree of 100 lights posted in the main office. Staff and students have been encouraged to take a tag and donate the gift described on it. The gifts will be organized by Student Council and delivered to the Maine Military Family Assistance Center for distribution to the families. The Student Council will also provide a holiday dinner and breakfast for each “adopted” military family.

According to the release, past holiday events organized by the WHS Student Council have always been extremely successful. “ They are hoping this year’s effort will be especially successful.”

“ We want to show others that they need to honor the men and women of the military and remember the many sacrifices made by them and their families,” said Student Council treasurer Kelsey Hammond.