Box of Joy Service Event
The St. Ignatius of Loyola Community is excited to once again participate in the Cross Catholic Outreach Box of Joy program.
Last year we were able to donate around 400 boxes full of gifts to these children in need. We are hopeful that this year we are able to help even more children have a joy-filled Christmas season.
“Our students are blessed with a chance to help fill a box of small gifts and necessary items that will help these children experience the wonder and awe of having something given specifically to them, and in doing so, they feel the love and magic of Christmas. This is such a gift for not only the children receiving the gifts, but also for our students, because they get the joy of making a gift of themselves,” said Valerie Bender, program coordinator.
Through this program, Cross Catholic Outreach donates gift boxes the size of shoeboxes to children in need in some of the world’s poorest countries. Some of the children who receive the gifts have never received a gift before; for many, receiving a gift is a concept they don’t even understand. Participants package simple items into boxes and the boxes are shipped to the countries in time for the children to receive the gifts at Christmas.
Homeroom teachers will communicate with school families to gather supplies to fill the boxes. If your family would like to fill an additional box, you are encouraged to pick up a box from the church doors or fill your own shoebox-sized box.
Every box should include a check for $9 made out to Cross Catholic Outreach, which should be inserted into the brochure envelope you can pick up with the boxes. You may also include personalized notes in the boxes as a way to connect with the other children.
A list of what to put in the boxes can be found here. A sample letter template can be found here.
