Erica Shneider
Staff Writer
For struggling families the holiday season isn’t always considered the happiest time of the year. Mira Costa students have been doing their part to bring Holiday cheer to those less fortunate than them.
For over twenty years, ASB has collaborated with The Salvation Army and Richstone Family Center to participate in a charitable holiday drive for needy South Bay families. Under the umbrella of “Operation Happiness” Mira Costa students can volunteer in several ways.
“There are many different programs such as the canned food drive, Angel Tree, and Adopt a Family that are considered a part of Operation Happiness,” Activities Director of Mira Costa, Lisa Claypoole said.
Each homeroom is given the opportunity to adopt a family or a child, which will be assigned later by ASB members. Students voluntarily make cash donations that will be used to purchase gifts for the family and/or child assigned to them. Richstone provides Mira Costa with a brief profile of the recipients, which includes their first name, age, size, gender, as well as the number one item on their holiday wish list.
“It’s great that someone provides us with the opportunity to carry out an act of charity with our students,” marine biology teacher Mr. Coller said.
Homerooms have also been busy collecting canned foods, which will eventually be distributed to families in need. Gifts for Adopt a Family/Child are due to the ASB room by Dec. 9. Once the canned goods and the gifts have been collected, ASB members deliver them to The Salvation Army and Richstone Family Center.
“It was such an amazing experience to see the look on all of the children’s faces. They were all so thankful for the gifts, and couldn’t wait to open them up on Christmas morning. It made me so happy to see that we helped so many families have a better holiday,” ASB member Sydney Pratt said.
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