Catholic school students throughout the diocese made sure that others could enjoy the season before they went on Christmas break.

Pictured clockwise, from top:

Members from Operation Shoebox, moderated by their math teacher Kathleen Gaughan, at St. Agnes A.H.S. in College Point delivered some holiday cheer this year to the local Veterans of Foreign Wars hall, The Everett Herrel VFW Post 885. The students donated over 50 pairs of sweatpants and wrote holiday cards that will be hand-delivered by the Ladies Auxiliary and members of the VFW to the veteran’s hospital in St. Albans.

The Bishop Kearney H.S. community in Bensonhurst showed that they understood what Christmas really meant by adopting local charities. The students filled someone’s wish by buying a specific item listed on a card distributed through their religion classes. During the Advent prayer services, they piled hundreds of gifts of toys, clothing and warm gloves around the tree set up in the center of the auditorium. The faculty held their own service a few days later and provided baby needs for young mothers. Members of the Catholic Studies Department coordinated the project. This year, the groups that benefited from the appeal included: St. John the Baptist Parish CCD, St. John’s Bread for Life, St. Francis of Assisi CCD in Manhattan, the St. Francis Breadline and Sisters for Life.

The members of the St. Saviour H.S. community in Park Slope worked together to make donations of clothes, toys and other gifts for Hour Children. This marks the second year of the drive, which is organized by the head of religious studies and campus ministry, Sister Anne Lalley, C.S.J. Founded more than 25 years ago, Hour Children’s mission is to help incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women and their children successfully rejoin the community, reunite with their families and build healthy, independent and secure lives.

The Reach Club, an after-school charity-based club at Midwood Catholic Academy, sponsored a toy and clothing drive for Operation Christmas Child. Operation Christmas Child is part of the Samaritan Purse International Relief. The school collected toys, clothing, school supplies and other items and packed them into shoeboxes to be sent to children around the world.