St. Edward Operation Christmas Child

Written by Superior North Catholic District School Board on 05 December 2010

*Scroll down for a link to St. Hillary’s Operation Christmas Child project story*

Life at St. Edward School

Instilling a Spirit of Giving in Children

NIPIGON, ON – With the holiday season almost upon us, many of us are gearing up for a great Christmas. For us this includes great food, great gifts, and the joy of family. Most of us are pretty privileged and we take things for granted. However, it isn’t the same for everyone all over the world. There are many families that are in disadvantaged areas and areas that are torn by war. Here children aren’t likely to get any gifts. However, the students, staff and families at St. Edward Catholic School are trying to change that!

This time of year is an ideal time to instil a spirit of giving in children. There are many ways to teach children to give to others during the holidays. Charities always need donations and it can be empowering for children to choose one. This year, at St. Edward Catholic School, “Operation Christmas Child” was once again the chosen charity to support and the means in which to ignite the spirit of “giving” to children in our world that are much less fortunate. Operation Christmas Child is a project run by the Christian organization Samaritan’s Purse in which shoeboxes full of gifts are shipped to poverty-stricken areas of the world. Shoeboxes are filled with small gifts such as toys, stuffed animals, coloring books, personal hygiene items, and so on.

However, this year at the school, instead of asking families and students to bring in shoe boxes already packed, they were asked to simply donate a variety of items, items such as toys, toothbrushes, face clothes, shoes, hats, scarves, gloves, pencils, markers, etc. A display and drop-off area was set up in the main entrance of the school over a two week period. The response from families was overwhelming.

Wednesday, November 17^th, the gym was set up by the school’s student council members under the guidance and direction of Mrs. Susan Lemieux in preparation for a “Shoe Box Packing Event.” In the afternoon, the staff and students gathered together in the gymnasium, grouped according to their school families, and, with Christmas songs such as “Away in a Manger,” “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “What Child Is This?” playing in the background, over 60 shoe boxes were packed and prepared by the students for their long journey to needy children around the world.

It was decided this year at the school to have all the students involved in the packing of the shoe boxes because it was thought that if the students were the ones who choose the items that will go into the box, they will feel that they are making a difference. Once the shoe boxes were packed, the entire school gathered together around the boxes they had just packed and, with the help of Deacon Dave Dupuis and Father Allen, took a few moments to bless the shoe boxes and pray for all children around the world who are in need and suffering. It was also a great opportunity for the students to discover how their shoe boxes will be helping to change the lives of children, help children learn about having faith in Christ and to hear the stories and see the faces of the children who receive these shoe boxes.

There is no doubt; during this “Shoe Box Packing Event” the Spirit of God was alive, present and working among the students as they packed the shoe boxes. The student’s hands, were in essence, the hands of God, visible and present among each of us, respond to the call of God to be just, merciful and humble to those who need to feel His love. For this moment in time, the students were the hands of God in this world, letting God use them to reach out and help and heal and comfort and soothe the lost, the lonely, the poor, the impoverished.

A shoebox filled with small presents may seem insignificant at a time of year when present buying turns into a frenzy but, for the staff, students and parents at St. Edward Catholic School, they understand that for a child in an impoverished country, it might not just be the only Christmas gift they receive this year, it could also be the most special gift they have ever received.