JSA Operation Christmas Child
Operation Christmas Child is a project that sends boxes full of toys and supplies to children in third-world countries every Christmas. Volunteer groups, clubs, and churches in America put together boxes which are then shipped overseas to more than 100 countries. Community leaders hand out the boxes to children and then share the gospel with them.
Lamar’s Junior State of America (JSA) chapter participated in Operation Christmas Child by holding a fundraiser to cover the cost of shipping, collecting specific items from elementary, middle, and high school students to send in the boxes, and inviting members of the club to pack the boxes. To raise money for the mailing of the boxes, JSA held a fundraiser to collect money in jars in teacher’s classrooms. The teacher with the most money in his or her jar would get a pie in the face at the last pep rally.
At the end of the week, Mr. Daniels (AP U.S. History, U.S. History) was the winner. Mr. Daniels was allowed to choose which student pied him and another student to pie, and his lucky winners were senior Garret Webb and senior Harris Mason, respectively. This fundraiser increased excitement in the students, and the members of JSA were very proud of the turnout. Lamar students raised a total of $273.05!
The next phase of the fundraiser was to collect items to pack in the boxes. Elementary students were asked to bring a written card and/or school supplies. The middle school was asked to bring fun items such as toys and stuffed animals. High schoolers were asked to bring shoeboxes and hygiene items. Students from the three schools graciously donated enough items to pack 106 boxes.
JSA president, Bella Gray, said this about this project: “The fact that our school has come together as a community to bring Christmas to these children is amazing. I am so proud to be a student at Lamar and hope to continue this project in the future.”
A few JSA members (Demia Bland, Emma Kate Uithoven, Lily Collins) aid President Bella Gray (far right) in loading boxes filled with goodies for Operation Christmas Child.