There were no Scrooges at New Richmond’s Monroe Elementary this holiday season.

Monroe students voted to give up their traditional gift exchange parties in favor of making donations to charitable organizations such as the Clermont County Humane Society’s Animal Shelter to the Ronald McDonald House.

The second grade classes of teachers Greg Chandler, Staci Heiden, Jennifer Huelsmann and Melanie Shoemaker and third grade classes of teachers Janet Grooms, Jennifer Mills and Cathy Singleton started the tradition in 2008 when they voted to bring in items for the Animal Shelter in lieu of a gift exchange party.