Organizers of an annual shopping tradition are looking for some very special Santa’s helpers to contribute to their Christmas cause.

Shop With a Yellow Jacket, or SWAYJ, is an annual Thomas County Schools project where students from Thomas County Central High School take children specially selected from the system’s elementary schools Christmas shopping. Preparations are currently ongoing for this year’s event, to be held Saturday, Dec. 19; however, donations are needed to make the day a success.

Items needed include materials that help wrap the perfect gift.

“Any Christmas wrapping paper, bows, name tags, scotch tape, or ribbon,” TCCHS Assistant Principal Karen Jones, event coordinator, said of needed supplies.

Teams raise money or are sponsored. The teams go through a local store to help their child buy gifts.

The community can help by sponsoring a team with any dollar amount they would like. It takes $100 to fund a shopping adventure per child.

The deadline to donate is Monday, Dec. 14. Donations should be given to Karen Franklin in the TCCHS front office.

SWAYJ is truly inspiring for the students involved and promotes the spirit of Christmas.

“The joy of watching a small child shop for his/her family cannot be overlooked,” Jones said. “Children shopping for things that their family needs rather than just toys is always touching.  The students participating leave the day with a feeling of the spirit of Christmas.”