Operation Christmas Child is a non-profit organization that collects donations and makes shoeboxes filled with gifts to give to children in impoverished areas. The goal of this organization is for kids to have something to open up during the holidays. National Spanish Honor Society has been working with Operation Christmas Child for years now. =

Katy Dillaman is a Spanish teacher and one of the National Spanish Honors Society sponsors. One of her favorite NSHS events is Operation Christmas Child. This year, the honor society raised $1,240, as well as other items that were donated by students. 

“For the last three years, Ms. Hinton and I have had a competition between our Spanish classes to see who could raise the most money because we found out that kids are a lot more willing to donate money [when there is competition]. Last year we went shopping, but this year [officers] went shopping for the items. It was really fun because they got to choose the items and see what the items would be. But the best part was seeing the boxes come together,” said Dillaman. There were over thirty students in the Lecture Center creating gift boxes.

Junior Nalani Fierro was in the lecture center after school on Monday, helping to create boxes. Her favorite part in participating in Operation Christmas Child was picking out the items. To Fierro, it felt like she was shopping for herself when she was younger. She enjoyed seeing the community gather to help with Operation Christmas Child.

“It’s nice cause I feel like we’re almost like Santa’s Elves and we’re spreading Christmas cheer. I also think we’re really going to be helping people who normally don’t get Christmas presents. And I think it’ll really make somebody’s day,” said Fierro.

Like Fierro, freshman Sean Stiles favorite part was wrapping the boxes and picking out the items. One of his favorite items that he picked up was a baseball plush.  He also enjoyed seeing the Lecture Center filled with people.

“I think that it’s very nice for us to be helping children who do not have as many things as we do in the holidays. It’s nice seeing everybody gather to help. I like how it’s not a few people but multiple people who actually want to help out,” said Stiles. Operation Christmas Child provides a way for people to help out kids in impoverished areas. It also opens the eyes of people to how blessed they are compared to others.

Senior Tess Rosen, also NSHS’s president, enjoyed seeing the community come together working towards a common goal. Rosen has been a part of NSHS since her freshman year.

“I think this event is one of the best events that I’ve ever done for an honor society. I’ve been a part of the Spanish Honors Society since freshman year, so I’ve done this for [four years]. I think it’s really fulfilling to be able to bring the school together for this very important cause. We’re able to bring joy to children. I think [the event] helps bring together Eaglecrest as a whole,” said Rosen.

With the amount of money and donated items, the National Spanish Honor Society made over 100 boxes filled with gifts for the kids to open up during the Holidays. 

“It makes me so happy. Kids at Eaglecrest are willing to do a lot for other people and it’s pretty amazing,” said Dillaman.