Gifts of Joy

The good folk of St. Dominic Elementary School and its community have been busily involved in charitable pursuits this fall, assembling gifts of joy to support two initiatives that help those less fortunate around the world and close to home.

Last month, the students were excited to participate again in Operation Christmas Child, a program committed to bettering the lot of youngsters in difficult or deprived circumstances overseas. Administered by Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief organization, it is the largest project of its kind in the world.

Teacher Diane Paterson and the kids in her grade four class co-ordinated this year’s efforts at St. Dominic. The two-week campaign began with a student assembly featuring an inspirational DVD about the breadth and significance of the problem and the nature of the support to be given. A letter home enlisted the aid of parents.

The list of donation ideas included books and school supplies, toys and games, clothing and personal care products, all items to be packaged in a shoebox. The contents of each box were to be gender and age specific: girl or boy, 2-4, 5-9 or 10-14 years old.

It was suggested that students might also include a photograph and a message of goodwill and friendship; and parents made financial donations to subsidize shipping and to expand assistance to the children in need and their communities.

As the campaign drew to a close, the co-ordinators were proud to announce that more than 150 shoeboxes had been packed and dispatched.

This month, the school celebrates Advent – and its spirit of caring, sharing and hope – by encouraging everyone to take part in Angel of the Tree, a plan to help make Christmas more joyful for four disadvantaged families in the St. Dominic’s Catholic Church community. The requested gift items (clothes, toys, toiletries, stocking stuffers, grocery gift cards to shop for Christmas dinner, etc.) were written on “Santa tags” to be hung on the Christmas tree in the front foyer of the school.

Principal Silvina Wolfe then invited parents to take a tag from the tree and to set about providing the items listed.

Each donation arriving back at the school has been acknowledged by having the donor family’s name written on a paper angel to be hung on the tree. Happily, as the campaign entered its final week, space to hang more angels was at a premium.

On the last day of classes before the holidays, the collected Christmas comfort and cheer will be boxed up and taken to the church for distribution … seasonal gifts of joy from the kind hearts at St. Dominic School.