At Christmastime, it’s better to give then to receive. Bellarmine-Jefferson High School students are learning that concept first-hand by participating in the annual Adopt-A-Family Christmas Basket program for the tenth time this year and delivering baskets to needy families from the Skid Row area of Los Angeles on Saturday, December 14.
The students have adopted eight families through the program, which is organized by the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and are gathering new gifts to give to them this holiday season. Each homeroom at the school has been responsible for fulfilling the needs of their adopted family since December 2, which include basic needs like cleaning supplies, bedding, kitchenware and clothing to fun and practical items on the Christmas wish lists of each member of the family. The students are then responsible for wrapping and labeling each gift and preparing them for delivery.
All of their hard work and dedication will culminate on Saturday, December 14, when student and faculty volunteers from Bellarmine-Jefferson High School, along with hundreds of other volunteers from across the Los Angeles area, will meet at the Cathedral for a special prayer service with Archbishop José Gomez. Then they will help pack up cars with Christmas baskets for all the program families and then hit the streets to make deliveries.
“Although these are economically difficult times for everyone, the Bell-Jeff community pulls together to make Christmas happen for families who otherwise have literally nothing,” said Director of Campus Ministry Jean Essa. “The highlight for our students is meeting families we deliver the gifts to and seeing how happy the children are to see the big boxes filled to the brim with presents. Parents are also happy to see needed items like dishes, pots and pans, and blankets. Our students get as much out of the experience as the recipients do and realize how fortunate they are. It’s a wonderful way to enter the Christmas season.”
