As you all know, this Holiday Season, the RSD teamed up with the New Orleans Council on Aging to help a Grandmother of 8 of our students.
Every day at work, we have our students’ lives and future in our hands. This Christmas, we showed that we are truly a part of something greater. This wasn’t just about Christmas, this was more about Faith. I am once again amazed by the love and generosity of everyone I am lucky enough to work with.
Gifts of every shape and size rolled in from all corners of our schools. Food and penny drives were held at our schools. Our vendors and contractors pitched in as well, matching what we donated here at Central Office. Clothes, jackets, toys, gaming systems, baby dolls, books, backpacks, bicycles and 2 laptops are just the beginning of a list of presents that would rival one put together by Santa himself.
The donations raised were enough to keep us shopping for presents the entire day of the 22nd and wrapping the whole day of the 23rd.
On Christmas Eve, an entire truck bed and cab was filled and a phone call was made. All 8 of the kids went to visit an Auntie at about 3pm and we rolled up in the truck around 4pm to deliver Christmas in a truck.
Under a bare, donated Christmas tree we placed presents picked out for all the kids and Grandma too. There was an envelope under the tree for each member of the family. These were filled with cards and gift cards so each kid could do a little shopping for themselves. One envelope that read Family was filled with enough gift cards for groceries for months to come. The gifts spread out from one corner in the kitchen where the tree stood and quickly began to overtake the room. Grandma Mary sat and watched… and cried.
The children returned at 5am on Christmas morning.