Mercer Island High School’s annual gift drive for Childhaven, put on by the student club Students Against Violence, is running a little low this year, according to the group’s advisor, Marlene Liranzo.

The drive has been a part of the school’s December activities for at least the last eight years, Liranzo said, and usually district staff and students are extremely generous with gifts for the children, but for whatever reason, she said, this year has been slower than most.

“It’s always been very successful, but this year we’re running a little low on gifts,” said Liranzo. “Last year we had over 500 gifts that staff and the kids gave.”

Childhaven is an organization for children from infants through age 5 who may be neglected or abused by their families. The group strives to provide therapy, social interaction and support so that those children can grow to be happy and healthy, while also providing education and support to caregivers and parents, according to their Web site.

“These little kids are at the mercy of the adults in their lives,” said Liranzo. She added that she and co-organizer Rebecca Milliman, of the Harborview Children’s Response Center, are a little panicky that they won’t have many gifts to give.

“Anything’s appreciated,” said Liranzo. “They can be wrapped, unwrapped — we’re not fussy. We just want to be able to give something.”

Students, staff and community members are encouraged to take a tag off the large MI logo in the high school’s main lobby. Each tag is listed with a child’s age and gender, and Liranzo said gifts can be anything from shoes and clothes to books and small toys. The gifts will be collected on Dec. 16, prior to MIHS’s winter break.

For more information, contact the high school at (206) 236-3345.