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(Editor’s Note:  For the third year in a row we are highlighting some of the Christmas giving spirit of our residents even in a down economy)

By Carol Arnett

Several North County schools, churches, and civic groups are getting into the Christmas spirit with toy drives, gift collections, and other special projects.

At Hazelwood West, students have adopted 15 families through Room and the Inn, an organization the serves the homeless and others in need. Last Thursday, students sent a busload of clothes, household items, and other items requested by the families.

Classes participated in various ways. Some collected money; others purchased gifts and donated items. The school has supported Room at the Inn for the past five years.

Money and gifts were donated by students, teachers and staff in classrooms throughout Hazelwood West High. Local businesses such as Shop ‘N Save and Deavers made cash donations and others gave students discounts because they were making purchases for charity, teacher Matt Moellering said. Student organizations did their part, too, he added.

Trinity Catholic High School helped others near and far. They held a toy drive for Sts. Theresa and Bridget parish. The parish collects the toys and sells them at a low cost to parishioners. They sold Santa-grams to benefit and organization that helps children worldwide.

Trinity also sold Angel-baked cookies. These cookies are made by North St. Louis teenagers in an effort started by North Grand Neighborhood Services. The teens working at the bakery develop job skills.`

Sacred Heart parish once again had a giving tree. This tree is decorated with paper ornaments. Each one contains a gift request. Parishioners take the ornaments and purchase the gift requested. The gifts are donated to several local charitable groups.

Students at Parker Road School can donate to a mitten tree. Students bring in mittens, hats, and scarves, which are donated to those in need. Atonement Lutheran students collected gifts and money.

Schools and churches are not the only groups donating. The Florissant chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) collects toys for the Toys for Tots program.

A Soldier’s Wish List is a group in St. Louis that collects donations and sends packages to soldiers year-round. However, they are especially busy at this time of year. They have sent packages to over 40,000 soldiers all over the world.

Founder Julianne Najan runs the organization from her home in Spanish Lake. “We give the soldiers what they want,” said worker Patsy Jackson. The soldiers submit a wish list and they try to fill it.

Jackson said the lists requested anything from board games to socks to DVDs.

In addition to lists submitted by individuals, the organization has fulfilled requests from larger units. For instance, they have sent nine microwaves to be used by large groups.  The group collects both items and money. Shipping overseas can be very expensive. Several civic groups, such as the Elks, collect for the group.

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