Several Lee Middle School students involved in the school’s community-service program, Lee Youth Trained to Serve, recently shipped 85 shoe boxes filled with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items to make children’s holidays a little brighter.
English Language Learner Paraprofessional Missdalia Rios coordinates the effort for Operation Christmas Child, a program of the Christian organization Samaritan’s Purse, each year to send the packages to Africa, Mexico, South America and many other countries where many children lack basic resources. Items packed were donated from students and teachers. Since 1993, more than 100 million gifts have been sent through the program.
“I like to do this experience because it shows them that even if they don’t have a lot of items to give away, there is always somebody else who has less,” Rios said. “It shows them a way to share what they have and make someone else’s Christmas better.”
Eighth grade student Rocio Moreno said she pictures the children opening the packages Christmas Day.
“I had fun doing the project and I like to help people a lot. I like to do activities to help other people. The children get something from someone else that they don’t know, and they know someone does care about them from somewhere else.”
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