As the weather gets colder, John Kent’s’ Public Service Practicum class is getting involved in the “Operation Christmas Child” along with the annual coat drive.

The students are given the choice of either the coat drive or Operation Christmas Child. They are split into two different groups for their corresponding project.

“We are partnering with the Salvation Army, and we had some students in class that had been helped by the Salvation Army in Waukegan in the past so they wanted to give back in some way. They also had a compassionate heart for those that were less fortunate and spend the winters cold because they are not able to afford coats or other necessities during the winter,” Kent said.

The coat drive collects coats from students, and those coats are given to the Salvation Army and the Salvation Army gives those coats out to less fortunate children.

“The students in the coat drive put boxes in every classroom and make a competition to see who can bring in the most,” said Senior Bianca Mejia-Hernandez.

Operation Christmas child gets students to donate gifts small enough to fit in a shoebox generally ranging from different toys.

“Other students in this group really wanted a way to help those less fortunate during the holiday times around the world,” Kent said.

The gift donation through Operation Christmas Child got started because senior Quinnlyn Meadowcroft had heard of Operation Christmas Child through her church and decided that she wanted to continue to partner with the organization.

“For PSP two other students and I had to choose a project we were passionate about or that we wanted to follow through with. Operation Christmas Child was really challenging us and we liked the whole aspect of it. We liked the idea of helping kids around the world by one small act of kindness,” said Meadowcroft.

Students drop off gifts that include toys, school supplies, and clothes for less fortunate children for the holiday season to keep them warm during the winter. PSP is a very beneficial experience and motivates students while showing them commitment. Students benefit from their experiences from giving back by donating during the holidays.

“Students learn the basic principles of creating and organizing an effective donation drive, to best motivate other students to donate to a particular drive. Students learn how much work goes into helping create a donation drive and how much commitment, time and effort it takes,” Kent said.