Teachers and school staff see the need — the child with no warm coat, the one whose socks are forever mismatched, the one whose pants have become too short.

And each holiday season, many decide to do something about it.

For more than 25 years, teachers at Lincoln Elementary School in Ottawa spend the school year fundraising in order to pay for Christmas gifts for some of their students whose holiday may not be so merry at home.

With the economy now deep in recession, the number needing help is even greater than before.

"The need has greatly increased in recent years," said Karen Roth, librarian at Lincoln and chairwoman of this project. "We used to buy for a dozen children. Now, it has really grown into a true school-wide project with so many staff members pitching in and helping. It breaks our hearts to see children that we know and work with every day not having a warm coat or boots."

Staff members suggest names of families who may need help. If the family agrees to accept the gifts, they provide clothing sizes to the school.

Throughout the school year, the faculty conducts a number of fundraisers to collect the money needed to purchase gifts and warm clothing. All funds collected from the annual rummage sale, sales of everything from school supplies to lollipops at school, and spirit days when everyone can wear pajamas or hats if they pay $1 are used to pay for the gifts and clothing for the Neediest Kids. The school's parent-teacher organization and teachers and staff also make donations.

This year about $3,300 will be used for about 35 children, said Roth.

After the shopping is done by teachers and staff, they spend the next few days wrapping. Parents come to the school to pick up the items.

"We know where the need lies, and it is so heartwarming for us to see those children return to school after break, so proud of their new clothes," said Roth. "Especially with the older children, they are aware of fitting in and having clothes that are in style. We can't give them everything they need, but we can at least make sure that they have some warm things to wear."

Lincoln is not alone in these kind of projects.

Teachers at Kimes School in Streator annually scour the Christmas tree at Kmart to find the names of their students and then buy those gifts for them.

At Woodland School District, the building teams up with the local Zonta Club to provide names of needy families. Deirdre Tol is not only the president of Zonta, she is also a teacher at Woodland. This effort each year is her favorite club activity.

The funding for the project comes from the community through the club's fundraising efforts. One raffle and collection tubs placed around town asking for spare change pay for the gifts and clothing for about 30 children each year. Zonta members shop for the students, then wrap the presents, which then are collected by the families from the school prior to the holidays.

Zonta used to work with Youth Service Bureau, but made the switch to Woodland several years ago in order to include students in Livingston County.

"What I have found is that it is easier for me to shop for the kids because I know them," said Tol, who teaches middle school social studies at Woodland. "I know what kid wouldn't like SpongeBob or who would. I've experienced both sides now and it is more personal when you know the kids who could use some help."

The best part, said Tol, is coming back from Christmas vacation and seeing students wearing items she helped purchase — instead of pawning them off on a brother or sister. The club is careful to ensure each child in the family has the same number of gifts, all marked from "Santa."

"It's something that touches everybody," she said. "We can all identify because of that Christmas feeling and kids opening gifts."

At Serena Elementary, the entire school community pitches in to help families in need. Leona Whiteaker, a clerk at Serena, said some variation of the program has existed for all 18 of the years she has been there and even before that. At one time, students had a school-wide gift exchange, but that shifted to being a canned food drive each year. Eventually, the project morphed into what it is today: an opportunity to help families who may be going without.

Suggestions come from the staff and teachers, who may notice students who need some help or know the family is going through a rough time. After the list is compiled, the school calls the families to make sure they are willing to accept assistance.

Donations come in from administrators, teachers, staff, parents, community members, the parent-teacher organization — even from Serena High School. Those funds are used to buy clothing and gifts for Christmas. This year, the school also is buying gift certificates so those families can purchase meat from a grocery store.

"That's the first thing that struggling families get rid of," said Principal Paul Schrik. "Fruits, vegetables and meat are the most expensive."

This year, the district collected enough to help eight families. Last year, it assisted about five or six.

"We're seeing a broader need than last year,"said Schrik. "It's a tough year, but more people are willing to help us. They know that we are in a unique position to know who the kids are (that need extra help)."

The gifts are delivered in person to the families prior to the holidays and the appreciation from these families is the best part of the project.

"I love giving," said Whiteaker. "I wish I could see them when they open (the gifts) on Christmas morning. I love seeing kids' expressions. I get excited about giving kids something that if they didn't get it, their Christmas wouldn't be as happy."