Sacred Hearts Academy senior
|
In the spirit
of Santa
Sacred Hearts students find
the satisfaction of giving to others
is a kind of extra credit
They just wanted to let the children know someone cared about them at Christmas. That's what students at Sacred Hearts Academy said over and over again about giving presents to about 100 children who live in a family shelter.
Some 20 girls in Leo Delgado's social justice and Christian lifestyles classes dipped into their savings and their parents' pockets to provide gifts for children less fortunate than they are, in an annual project to benefit families at the Loliana Hale apartments in downtown Honolulu.
Since the project began 10 years ago, the students at Sacred Hearts Academy have always delivered more than has been asked of them, said Delgado, also the project coordinator for the past eight years.
"I'm always encouraged when they want to do more than asked. They are very responsive, and it's very heartening for me," said Delgado.
The students were asked each to pick one child whose name, age and gender were listed, and purchase and wrap a gift for that person.
Some wanted to pick more than one child, and they all "wanted to give more" than the $5 average would allow, asking if they could spend $10 or more, Delgado said. Their parents usually chipped in more money, and many of the Sacred Hearts teachers also contributed to the project, he added.
Maile Cabugao, a senior, "adopted" a 3-month-old baby, a 2-year-old girl and a 3-year-old boy from the same family.
As an only child with few cousins, Cabugao said: "I've always wanted a younger brother or sister. I just want to see smiles on their faces and brighten up their day, or their lives. ... It was fun shopping for kids."
Cabugao was able to attend the distribution of gifts on Wednesday afternoon and meet the children. Their mom wouldn't allow them to open them at the event, wanting them to save them for Christmas, but the little boy managed to run away and rip open the wrapping for a peek before he was caught, she said.
"But he was really happy. It was nice to see the smiles and the joy we brought. ... I was really excited," Cabugao said.
She told other children to whom she passed out gifts that her classmates had really wanted to be there to meet them, but had to go to class.
Senior Jessica Tanabe used $30 she had saved to buy three presents for a boy and two girls. The younger girl's name is Precious, which tugged at her heart, she said.
"I put a lot of effort into" wrapping the presents, including cards with personal messages, and adorning the cards with felt reindeer faces and candy canes.
She said she wanted them to know "I really wanted to do this; it wasn't just a chore." She couldn't attend the Wednesday event, so she wrote on one of the cards, "I wish I could see you smile when you open this gift."
Megan Morrison said she and her friend, Nicki Puchalski, got together to buy presents for a single mother with two kids, and made a point of giving something to the mom, because her job was extra hard "raising children by herself and in that situation (the shelter)."
"I got very excited when I went to buy the presents and wrapped them. I really started getting into it. It's not that much (the presents), but knowing that someone cares might help. It's something to help them get through the holidays," Morrison said.
Delgado said he has received heartfelt letters of gratitude over the years from residents of the shelter, including one that read: "Your generous gifts have made our holidays special. ... You can't imagine the smiles and joy to us, knowing people CARE. We smile cause of you. Thank you so much."
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