Judge Memorial shares the spirit of Christmas

IC photo by Christine Young

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Jessica Gaffney (front left), Megan Trentman, Cricket Oles, Malori McGill (back left) and Megan Trentman are Judge Memorial seniors and peer ministry members who participated CCS' Gift of the Drummer program.

SALT LAKE CITY - "This is a good time of year to think of people other than yourself," said Mary Chris Ledbetter, director of Counseling Services at Judge Memorial Catholic High School, where students, faculty and staff are donating items to Catholic Community Services' (CCS) Gift of the Drummer program. "We have an opportunity to know to where our gifts are going, and that makes it more meaningful than just giving money."

Dennis Kelsch, CCS program manager for Emergency Assistance said there are 875 children being helped this Christmas.

"Judge Memorial is supporting 64 children from 33 families," said Amanda Lazinski, a theology teacher and director of Campus Ministry, adding that CCS sent information such as the child's age, weight, and sizes of the children who will receive the gifts, and their biggest need. "We really stress trying to get the clothes they need first, and then a toy," Lazinski said.

Each homeroom class was assigned one or two children for whom they provided Christmas. Senior class members of Peer Ministry explained how homeroom classes handled the Gift of the Drummer.

"We collected $300 with which we could shop," Megan Trentman said. "Students donated their own money, some earned the money and some students got the money from their parents."

Cricket Oles realized that $15 out of her pocket for a simple Christmas gift could make a big difference for someone on Christmas Day. "I loved waking up Christmas morning and seeing all the presents," she said. "To know there are children out there who don't have that opportunity is disheartening."

Malori McGill said the students in her homeroom liked shopping for their gifts. "We liked picking out and seeing what our money was being used to buy. Some of the students purchased items and brought them in."

Jessica Gaffney said students signed up for the items they wanted to buy, and enjoyed picking out what they would have liked when they were at a younger age.

Lazinski said students were willing to have one less Christmas present this year themselves so they could donate that money toward the Gift of the Drummer. All of the gifts were gathered Dec. 14 and delivered to CCS, which distributed them to the families on Dec. 17.

"Participating in the Gift of the Drummer has really been fun this year because the peer ministers and the Social Action students have been really excited to get involved," said Lazinski. "They have been doing this their freshman through junior years, and now they are really aware of the economic issues and they want these families to have the best Christmas they can. I have been impressed, as a teacher, as to how much responsibility the students have taken on in the spirit of giving and in Christ's love."

"There truly has been a sincere desire on the students' part to make a difference in someone's life," said Joan Jensen, a theology teacher and department chairperson.

"It made me realize that even though I am only 18 years old, I can make a difference," said Oles. "I think adults sometimes underestimate teenagers, which in some cases can be true. But I realize there are things outside of my own life that I should be aware of, even as close as Catholic Community Services. I was humbled by the things these kids were asking for such as warm socks."

"It is more about the spirit of giving," said Rosie Neville. "Helping a child believe there is a Santa, even if that Santa is a Judge student, there is still a spirit of giving, happiness and love."