Saint Gabriel Classical Academy will be participating in the Box of Joy ministry for our first trimester service project. Box of Joy is a Christmas gift outreach organized by local Catholic schools, parishes, and groups nationwide. We will bless children suffering from extreme poverty by filling boxes with toys and other gifts, sharing the joy of Christmas, and planting seeds of hope through the Gospel. We will be collecting items to fill boxes of joy and collecting money for shipping ($9/shoebox).

If you are donating money, please put money in a sealed envelope with Box of Joy shipping money written on the envelope. Thank you.

In order to make this meaningful to our students, who do not know poverty, like the recipients of these items, we highly recommend that parents discuss with their children how their children can work to pay for part or all of the items that they will donate. I know this is a relatively short time between now and October 21, but they can perhaps create a paper chain and borrow the money and work to pay it off. Some suggestions to raise money: extra chores, ask the neighbor(s) if they can help rake up their leaves or do something to raise money that you as a family think of. In my experience, attaching meaning and sacrifice to support these children who are born into extreme poverty, is more beneficial to the giver than the parents just giving them money or buying the items and sending them in with your child.

Our students will be making Christmas cards and praying for the recipients. At the Oct 21st school Mass there will be a blessing of our Box of Joy gifts.

All Items are due by October 21st and must fit inside a shoebox. For more information go to: https://crosscatholic.org/box-of-joy/