64th annual Christmas Drive a success
information provided by Marian Catholic High School
CHICAGO HEIGHTS, Ill. (December 18, 2022) – Santa’s workshop was in full swing at Marian Catholic High School on Tuesday, December 13 as the entire student body and many staff members organized and delivered thousands of Christmas gifts, food items, toiletries, and household goods to south suburban Chicago families in need. Through its annual Christmas Drive, now in its 64th year and led by the Student Council Executive Board, Marian Catholic partnered with Respond Now in Chicago Heights to adopt and deliver Christmas to 32 families and more than 60 children.
While members of the school’s band played Christmas music, students dressed in their favorite Christmas attire got into the spirit of the season by personally greeting families as they arrived. Students then loaded all of the donations collected in the Christmas Drive – more than 100 items per family – into the families’ cars. Santa even stopped by during the drive.
“Because of COVID, the last time we were able to personally deliver the gifts to families was when I was a freshman,” said Helen Mulugetta, Marian Catholic’s Student Council President. “And now, getting to do it in person as a senior is so special. It’s amazing to see the smiles of happiness on the faces of both the families and our students.”
Christmas Drive history
The annual Christmas Drive at Marian Catholic was started in 1958, the year the school was founded by the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois. With a deep belief in building strong communities, the Dominican Sisters understood the importance of sharing their God-given gifts with the community and began the Christmas Drive to help the school community get involved in giving back to the greater community. It’s a tradition that has been carried on for 64 years.
“Our annual Christmas Drive truly demonstrates the positive impact that our students have on the community,” said Lauren Wallace, a science teacher and one of the staff moderators for Marian Catholic’s Student Council. “It brings together a lot of students who normally wouldn’t be together to share in the Christmas spirit and go above and beyond to bring the joy of Christmas to so many people.”
According to Jack Heneghan, Marian Catholic Vice President of Student Development who’s witnessed this program in action as a staff member for more than 40 years, “Next to graduation, this the best day of every school year!”
Marian Catholic High School is located at 700 Ashland Avenue in Chicago Heights.
Lovely story about Marian students. Is there anyway I can get a recording or more pictures of the Our Lady of Guadalupe service at St. Ann’s church this past week?