Middle school Santas

Students give to help DYFS, SHIP families

By:Donna Lukiw
   Fourteen Hillsborough Middle School students played Santa on Dec. 22, loading a yellow school bus with toys and clothes for underprivileged families in the local area.
   The students delivered 100 contractor bags filled with toys, clothes and shoes to the Samaritan Homeless Interim Program (SHIP) center and Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) in Somerville.
   "It felt good to deliver the toys because a lot of people don’t have homes and it feels good to give them something," eighth-grader Katie Miller said while riding on the bus.
   As part of the TOPS (Together Our Peers Succeed) club at the school, students wanted to reach out and help families and individuals in need by personally delivering them to the centers.
   While it may seem like a timely project, the students, teachers and advisors collected 100 bags of gifts in only four days. The students helped out 10 families at DYFS and 30 individuals and 21 families at SHIP. Students, teachers, Wal-Mart and Kmart all contributed by either donating their time, gifts or giving discounts.
   "I showed up at Wal-Mart and left there 15 minutes later with underwear, T-shirts and pajamas," school social worker Tristen Garretson said. "They just gave it to us."
   Although the students didn’t have a chance to meet the families they knew exactly where the gifts were going to be delivered and who they were helping through a list provided by SHIP and DYFS.
   Students helped single moms and dads, a family living in a shelter and orphans — all living in the local area.
   "I didn’t appreciate everything that my parents gave me so I felt like I should help out," Katie said. "Now, I appreciate what my parents give me."
   The students also packed gift wrap for the families so they could wrap their own gifts for their children.