ADAMS TWP — Mars High School students and their parents have found room in their hearts and their wallets for more than two dozen additional needy children and their families this Christmas season.

Susan Bigante, the guidance counselor, and the school's student council have coordinated the Treasures for Children program with the Salvation Army for five years at the school.

In the program, students retrieve tags from the school library or guidance office that contain the wish lists of a specific child or family.

Each list seven or eight items on it.

The student then buys some or all of the items on the list and brings them to the school.

The deadline to turn in gifts was Thursday.

The items are then collected by Salvation Army volunteers in early December for distribution to the child or family, all of whom are Butler County residents.

Bigante said 2006 has proven a banner year for the program, as students have adopted more than 100 youngsters and 10 families.

The program normally covers 75 children and five families.

Bigante has no explanation for the increase other than the true benevolence of students and their families.

"It seems in general the people are more generous this year," she said. "I have kids bringing in bicycles."

Bigante said the program is as important for the donating students as it is for the recipients of the gifts.

"It teaches our students the importance of giving back and understanding the circumstances of others' lives," she said. "It also teaches them to be grateful for what they have. For some (Mars) kids, buying a bike is nothing. It can be their allowance money."

Nick Perri, student council vice president, understands the lesson Bigante hopes to impart to all students who pull a tag.

"It brings the school together in the spirit of giving," said Perri.

"It's definitely better than receiving. We don't realize how good we have it. This is our way of trying to give back to the community."

Council treasurer Brian Ruthieaux said he could not fathom a child waking up Christmas morning to find nothing under the tree.

"It helps those who are not fortunate enough right now to provide a Christmas for their family," said Ruthieaux. "These people wouldn't receive anything for Christmas if it weren't for this program."

Still, the students are not surprised at the overwhelming generosity that has pervaded the high school this Christmas season.

"This is the atmosphere at Mars," said Perri.

Bigante's only concern is having enough space for the flood of toys coming into the high school.

"We already have one large closet filled with gifts from only eight or nine students," she said.