Wiscasset Middle High School has helped give Maine military families the Christmases they might never have been able to afford, Brandon Keene of Maine Army National Guard’s 133rd Engineer Battalion told students and staff Friday.

Toys and other gifts the school gathered in its yearly “100 Points of Light” program filled two tables behind Keene as he spoke from the floor of Stover Auditorium, about the “Christmas Across Maine” program that the gifts were going to.

“It’s difficult for a lot of people to tuck away their pride and ask for help,” he said. “So this program allows them to anonymously request help to avoid any of the negative connotations, and ensure that their families get a good Christmas.”

Keene thanked everyone listening on the bleachers, much fuller this year now that grades seven and eight have joined the school. He said to thank everyone’s friends and families who helped, as well. Then the six grades and the school’s staff applauded and cheered when Keene told them, “You guys have a Merry Christmas.”

Later, students helped Keene load gifts into a vehicle. It’s very refreshing to see young people showing patriotism and wanting to get involved, he said in an interview.

The school has been giving to “Christmas Across Maine” for years, through the “100 Points of Light” effort that benefits local families and Maine military families. The student council puts a gift tree with tags on the front office wall. This year, when some tags remained on the tree, people stepped up to get those gifts, technology coordinator and student council adviser Deb Pooler said.

Some of the tractors that teacher Rob Cronk’s students made went into the program. The project started as classwork but turned out to be about helping others, Cronk said during Friday afternoon’s assembly.

Students gave up free periods and came in after school to work on the tractors bound for charities that serve children ages 4 to 7, Cronk said.

“Without your hard work, your dedication for getting the job done and done right — these things are pretty nice — some kids might not have had anything under the tree.”

The assembly also honored one student’s effort to add to Wiscasset’s Christmas cheer. Pooler called senior Avery Thomas to join her on the auditorium floor. Then she noted his display of Christmas lights and music on Bath Road, near Ship’s Chow Hall.

Thomas invited everyone to bring their families to see it.

Also Friday, senior Sam Smith played guitar as sophomores Corey Campbell and Vanessa Dunn sang the seasonal duet, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” And all the grades competed in quick contests that had them passing stuffed animals without using their hands; and seeing which grade could give the loudest school cheer.

Pooler brought up the student council’s recent visit to Togus, where members decorated cookies, delivered cards and lap blankets, and sang songs with veterans. Wiscasset’s Joan Reed made the lap blankets, Pooler said.