Students began raising money for this project in November by doing chores and odd jobs for families, neighbors and relatives. The entire class had an all-school bake sale which this year netted $630. The bake sale money, combined with the other money raised totaled over $3000. With a list of names and ages in hand, each pair of students with a volunteer mother wheeled their carts up and down the aisles of Target in Plymouth Meeting. Kevin Staples said, “It was amazing shopping at Target. I had a lot of fun and I felt great that I was helping an 8month old baby. I really enjoyed getting her a musical bear and I hope she enjoys her holiday.
When Kristin Webb and two associates from Episcopal Community Services stopped at Shipley to pick up the gifts, she shared with the students how special Shipley’s efforts are to the families they help. She explained that many children have been removed from their home due to neglect or abuse. Foster families do what they can to provide for these children, but without the help of programs like Shipley’s and ECS’s there would be almost no chance that they would have a nice holiday.
The students’ thoughtfulness and sensitivity to those in need is a reflection of the words in the school’s mission, “compassionate participation in the world,” as their efforts provided 26 children, 2 teenagers, and 14 adults with gifts for the holiday. The school’s mission is also reinforced in the words of Julia Keating who said, “This project was really fun because you knew you were helping people who aren’t as fortunate as us. They will be able to have a nice Christmas because we got them presents.”

Posted December 14, 2004