Veterans-turned-students grow Giving Tree project as community support secures donations

This piece is sponsored by Southeast Technical College.

What started as a simple idea — giving in the spirit of the holiday season — has blossomed into one of the most meaningful service projects Southeast Technical College has seen in recent years.

First-year horticulture technology students Destiny Wallace-McClintock and Megan Wallace-McClintock organized a Giving Tree initiative that united STC’s trades and horticulture programs, all housed in the Ed Wood Trade & Industry Center. The project turned the Wood Center lobby into a powerful symbol of Christmas and inspired generosity that delivered critical donations to Sioux Falls veterans.

“Being in the horticulture program, we wanted to do some sort of a community service project to give back and incorporate Christmas trees,” Megan Wallace-McClintock  said. “These are not real, but we wanted to depict every trade here. Every program in the Ed Wood building has a tree that students decorated with tools of their trade.”

Benjamin Ringling, a horticulture instructor, purchased a large tree for the Ed Wood lobby. Destiny and Megan took it from there — investing their own time, creativity and personal resources to bring the project to life. The result was a festive, meaningful display that celebrated both the season and Southeast Tech’s commitment to service.

But the Giving Tree project was about more than decorations.

Megan and Destiny, who are both veterans, were driven by personal experience. After facing a difficult period in their lives and receiving support from the Disabled American Veterans organization, they felt called to give back in a way that could make a real difference.

“We were in a very difficult spot — we hit rock bottom as a family,” Megan Wallace-McClintock said. “The DAV stepped in to help two veterans, and this is our way to give back how they helped us through a tough situation in life. People go through that.”

Their vision quickly gained momentum. Word spread across campus and throughout the Sioux Falls community, sparking what Destiny Wallace-McClintock describes as a powerful sense of brotherhood and sisterhood. Donations poured in from students, employees and local organizations. The DAV helped kick-start the effort with large donations of hygiene items and warm clothing, while additional support came from the VFW, American Legion, Dakota Turf/Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and other community partners.

“Everybody banding together in the community has been huge,” Megan Wallace-McClintock  said. “It’s like a hug from everybody.”

The majority of donated items will benefit the Veterans Community Project, an organization dedicated to helping veterans transition out of homelessness and set them up for their next step in life.

“My heart goes out to vets,” Megan Wallace-McClintock  said. “Just because you see a homeless vet out there doesn’t mean they haven’t had their time in uniform where they are prim and proper and everything is perfect. They had their life together, on a set schedule, and they gave every ounce of energy to serve this country — and they’re the last ones to ask for help.”

For those who witnessed it, the Giving Tree project was unforgettable.

“It is one of the neatest things I have witnessed on campus during my tenure,” Ringling said. “Students are going above and beyond, collaborating across programs for a very special cause.”

Next year, Destiny and Megan are hoping to expand the project to additional buildings on campus and include trees for all academic programs. “We would like to keep working on this as alumni, too,” Destiny Wallace-McClintock said.

After all — the project doesn’t just fill boxes — it fills hearts, strengthens partnerships and shows how far compassion can reach when students take the lead.