AUGUSTA---A relationship that has brought holiday joy to hundreds of families in need in the Augusta area will now extend the cooperation and goodwill to Christmas.
St. Michael School and the Salvation Army will team up to distribute Christmas toys to nearly 200 local families on Tuesday, December 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the school’s gym, located on 56 Sewall Street in Augusta.
The event stems from the successful Thanksgiving partnership between the school and organization that annually provides over 150 Thanksgiving baskets, containing all of the fixings for a traditional meal, to community members.
“When we were doing our distribution at Thanksgiving this year, representatives from the Salvation Army were looking at the size of our gym and wished aloud that they had a place like this to give out their Christmas toys,” said Kevin Cullen, principal of St. Michael. “I said, ‘How about this gym?’”
After some quick planning, St. Michael worked out how to repurpose the gym for the day and became the distribution venue in time for this Christmas. In addition to the venue, the school is also offering human help to the cause.
“We will have about eight students working with them per hour and all of our middle school kids in grades six through eight will be involved,” said Cullen. “In total, sixty of our students will participate in the set up and distribution.”
The time, effort, and commitment involved in adding a Christmas distribution to the massive Thanksgiving program is minor compared to the effect the day will have on students and the community alike.
“Our students will never forget the look of happiness on the faces of these families when they receive Christmas toys for their loved ones,” said Cullen. “The hard work will last a day. That experience of seeing those smiles and knowing you helped create them will last a lifetime.”
Media members are welcome to attend the distribution on December 20. If you plan to cover the event, contact Dave Guthro, Communications Director for the Diocese of Portland, at (207) 321-7810 or [email protected].