How Sioux Falls area schools are getting into the holiday spirit this year by giving back
‘Tis the season to be jolly, and students and teachers in schools in the Sioux Falls area are getting into the spirit of giving.
In schools across the area, students have given back by cooking Thanksgiving meals, quilting blankets to keep neighbors warm and easing local families’ financial burdens this holiday season.
Here’s a list of the ways local schools are giving back, and how you can help:
Did we miss something? Email education reporter Morgan Matzen at MMatzen@argusleader.com to make sure local give-back events and benefits held in our local schools are included and covered in this list.
Giving in 2021:Here's how Sioux Falls-area schools are giving back to their community this holiday season
Sioux Falls School District
17th Annual Project Warm-Up
This project of donating blankets started in 2006 at the Instructional Planning Center with a group of 20 students from Lincoln High School. In that first year, 100 blankets were made in the afternoon. Since then, the district has distributed more than 32,000 new fleece blankets to children and families in need.
Children may be in need of a blanket due to poverty, homelessness, loss of a parent, entering foster care, a family crisis, or just need to know someone cares, district spokesman Ben Schumacher said in a news release, adding that with a bad season of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), the district has also delivered blankets to children who are seriously ill.
Blankets will be shared with every school in the district and several schools in the surrounding area, Child’s Voice, Ronald McDonald houses, East River Foster Parent Network, Department of Social Services, Sanford Castle, Avera Children’s Hospital, Habitat for Humanity, the Teddy Bear Den, Chemo Comfort Care Bags, Children’s Inn, Call to Freedom, St. Francis House and more.
More:Ben Reifel Middle School students host Thanksgiving meal for school community
Social workers, counselors and administrators deliver the blankets to children on the Monday after the blanket-making event, prior to the holiday season.
This year the project will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 10 at Sonia Sotomayor Elementary School.
The district encourages volunteers to join for the blanket-making party or host one of their own by gathering a team, club, youth group, book club, family, friends, neighbors or classmates to make blankets together. The blankets are tied and don’t require sewing.
O’Gorman High School
Advent project
O’Gorman High School students are working on an Advent project in which they collect items to fill 240 Christmas stockings with necessities, a gift card and a Christmas card for residents at the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House.
The students and staff are also filling large boxes with items from a list of needs for the house. The stockings and boxes will be delivered Dec. 16, and each resident will receive a stocking on Christmas.
“It is a pretty impressive sight when all of the boxes and stockings are lined up in the foyer,” O’Gorman schools spokeswoman Rachael Kapperman said.
More:Roosevelt High School student represents Jobs for America’s Graduates in D.C.
Baltic School District
Winter clothing drive
A group in the Baltic School District is organizing a winter clothing drive and planning to distribute all donations locally, then to groups in Sioux Falls, superintendent Bob Sittig said.
Angel Tree
Schools in Baltic are also organizing an Angel Tree for Christmas where families can indicate a need and other families can fill those needs.
If a family wishes to request gifts from the Angel Tree, or give to a family in need, they can email Counselor Marilyn Schmitz-Stadem at marilyn.schmitz-stadem@k12.sd.us with confidential requests. Gifts must be delivered to school by Dec. 19 and will then be delivered to families by Dec. 24.
Coins for Kids
Baltic students will participate in the Sioux Empire United Way’s annual Coins for Kids program, an organized coin collection in classrooms Dec. 5-9.
Students can bring a baggie with any coins they’d like to donate during that week to add to their classroom’s canister. When all campaigns are completed, volunteers will pick up the coins and canisters to count. All donations will go to give children books through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Staff Christmas gifts
The Baltic Parent Teacher Organization is organizing a gift card fundraiser for staff members in the Baltic School District. Students or families can contribute any dollar amount to any staff member, and that dollar amount will be combined with other contributions and used to purchase a gift card to the business of the staff member’s choice.
Staff will receive their gift cards before Christmas break along with a greeting card from each person that gave money for that staff member. Specific donation amounts won’t be shared.
More:Chemistry in cooking: USD assistant professor explains the science of Thanksgiving
Harrisburg School District
Giving Tree
The Harrisburg School District is accepting gift card donations for local families in the Giving Tree program at all schools.
Gift cards in $25 increments are preferred, but not necessary. The district asks that gift cards are included in an envelope labeled “Attn: School Counselor-Giving Tree.” The deadline to donate is Dec. 7.
Tea Area School District
Angel Tree
Heather Herman is leading this year’s community effort behind the Angel Tree with the Tea Area School District and the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA).
The Angel Tree provides Christmas gifts for families in need. Herman coordinates the contacts with families and matches donors who purchase gifts for local children. Herman and others also raise funds to purchase Fareway grocery gift cards for families.
FCCLA is also holding a toiletry drive to benefit Angel Tree families. Local group tLink is also gathering laundry baskets to put toiletry items into for each family. Seventy-nine families and 212 students will be served by the local program this year.
“This project would not be possible without the amazing support we receive from our community,” Herman said.
Staff gathering “birthday bags”
Tea Area Schools staff are putting together “birthday bags” for families in need containing items for a birthday party like streamers, balloons, cake pans, cake mix, party favors and more, on Dec. 22.
Coloring contest
Tea Area Schools’ resource officer Alexi Miranda is hosting a coloring contest with Venture and Legacy Elementary Schools, with judging on Dec. 9-10 by Tea Police Department officers. Winners will be announced Dec. 12 and will win a lunch with Officer Miranda as their prize.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: How Sioux Falls area schools are celebrating the holidays in 2022
