St.Thomas More Academy Collecting ‘Box of Joy’ For Holidays

FREDERICK, Md. (KR)  A program dedicated to bringing happiness to children suffering from poverty in other countries is asking for help sending items for Christmas. St. Thomas More Academy in Middletown is supporting the ‘Box of Joy’ program and will be collecting shoe boxes filled with toys, hygiene items, school supplies, and candy.

Patricia Newmark, Dean of Academics says it is an easy thing to do that will put a smile on a child’s face this holiday season.

“This is our first year and we’re so excited. The organization reached out to us and said “would you like to be a drop off center?” and so we decided to step out in faith and say “absolutely.” She said, “we have an opportunity to reach out to the community and garner support. Everyone can come out here and drop off their boxes and they’ll be shipped off to Haiti, Dominican Republic and Guatemala.

She said anyone participating can choose a gender between the ages of 2 and 14.

“They can come by the school and get a box. We have them available in the front office. November 11th, 12th and 13th we will have hours available for returning the completed boxes. So we are going to have opportunities during the day to turn them in that Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but we need them back by the 13th,” said Newark.

BY: Katie Ryan