Christmas Shoe Box

It is my first project with our Student Council, "Christmas Shoebox."

We agreed to do something different this  year.  Instead of having a popularity contest to raise funds for the less fortunate.  We agreed to ask all students to get an adult rubber shoebox and fill it up with new stuffs like clothes, toys, books, towels etc.  Each year level was assigned an specific age group of recipients.  They are to gift wrap the shoebox and place it in their classroom as an added Christmas decor for their class.  At first, we wanted this to be done by the elementary and high school students but the pre-school also wanted to join the activity to raise social awareness.

We also agreed additional work for high school students by assigning each batch to a particular organization to help distribute the shoeboxes.  They are also asked to create a Christmas party for these less fortunate kids with a budget of 50 pesos per head.  This one really gave them a headache.  Since everyone is used to spending much for parties.  One officer was even so surprised in the meeting saying, "50 pesos is not enough for a Jollibee Christmas Party per head."  I told them, you guys better cook.  Through this activity, I wanted them to learn the value of money.

I challenge the SC to go to the grocery to canvass prices which they did and realized that the 50 pesos per head was really enough to create a good party for their target audience.  This will be the first time the whole student body are being mobilized to do such simultaneously activity.  I was glad that the homeroom advisers and some faculty members were also glad to help the students their preparation for such an outreach project.

The next question will be - where will we get the money to raise the needed funds?  We decided to collect any amount students are willing to give.  Some members of the SC was hesitant because according to last year's experience they were not able to raise more than a thousand pesos (if my memory serves me right).  But anyway, I just encouraged them to commit all things to God through prayer.  I hope they will experience the power of prayer through this opportunity.

So, we set a weekly prayer meeting to pray for this event.