As part of its custom to give thanks for all the blessings received by sharing joy with others, Stella Maris Academy of Davao (SMAD) resumed its all-out annual Christmas Fund Drive and Share-A-Joy programs or activities in November and December 2022 after the safety restrictions brought by the pandemic.
The month-long preparation started on November 10, when the Junior High School (JHS) Glee Club and JHS Dancers’ Guild sang and danced to the Christmas beat during the launching of the Christmas Fund Drive.
This was followed by the actual bringing of rice, canned goods, milk, coffee, sugar, and hygiene kits by eager pre-school to senior high school pupils and students every week from November 14 to December 9. Boxes were provided per classroom by the Community Extension Services (CES) office for pupils and students to place their donations. These boxes were collected every Thursday by the GS Supreme Student Government (SSG) officers and every Friday by the JHS and SHS SSG officers, respectively.
Also, the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA), alumni from different batches, parents, and former parents participated in the Christmas Fund Drive.
Moreover, all GS and HS clubs made Christmas cards as one of their club activities. This would be placed inside the grocery packs during the packing of goods.
Meanwhile, the spirit of volunteerism and collaboration from different departments and communities, namely the faculty, staff, students, maintenance men, PTA, alumni, and benefactors, was visibly seen as everyone came together on December 10 in the morning to pack the goods that were collected.
One-hundred and five (105) of these packs were donated to each family by the non-teaching personnel, together with the Grade School Principal Sister Dina Galaura, F.I. and the Junior and Senior High School Principal Mr. Luis Arangoso, Jr., as they went to Sitio Elian, SMAD’s adopted community in Marilog District. Feeding, community building through games, pre-assessment, and evaluation comprised the whole-day’s activity.
On December 14 and 19, the CES office headed by Mr. Pepito Nuqui, Jr. delivered grocery packs of the SMAD community’s donation to the recipients in Ulingan and neighboring families in Lacson Extension, another beneficiary of the school.
And on December 17, different beneficiary institutions, namely Bishop Valles, REMASE, Pre-College, Davao City Jail, Our Lady of Victory for Physical Handicapped, Balay Pasilungan, Home for the Aged – Missionaries of Charity, Sta. Ana Police Precinct, Sacred Heart Parish, House of Joy A – Missionaries of Charity, Bishop Emeritus Capalla, SIDLAKAN, Archdiocese Nourishment Center, Barangay Tomas Monteverde, Barangay Paciano Bangoy, Barangay 20-B, and New Police Station, went to SMAD for the Share-A-Joy activity. They were welcomed by the merry grooves of the Grades 4-6 pupils.
Truly, such missions allow the SMAD community to experience and live out the dear foundress Saint Candida Maria de Jesus’ saying: “Where there is no room for the poor, neither is there room for me.” especially in preparation for SMAD’s 70th founding anniversary.
by Patricia Leigh N. Gonzales