Christmas Spirit Includes Sharing with Broader Community

National Honor Society and We Serve club members filled Christmas stockings over lunch in mid December with wrapped personal care items and treats.

The supplies were donated by Rotary Club of Rockingham County. “We love supporting the school and encouraging service,” said a Rotary representative.

Later in the week, the students went with faculty sponsors to Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community where they met with residents who had been identified by staff as unlikely to have many visitors over the Christmas season.

The students visited with the residents and shared their stocking gifts. Some residents chose to open the items while the students were present, and thank them. Others held on to the gifts to enjoy on Christmas day.

A representative of Rockingham Rotary encourages We Serve president elect, Miriam Rhodes ’22, to consider a Rotary opportunity. Onlookers include club sponsor Wendy Stapleton and current We Serve president Abby Stapleton ’20.

Students also collected canned goods to share with the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and Patchwork Pantry food ministry, bringing items to collection boxes before a K-12 Christmas worship service and throughout the season.