God of love,

Your son, Jesus, is your greatest gift to us. 

He is a sign of your love. 

Help us walk in that love during the weeks of Advent,

As we wait and prepare for his coming.

We pray in the name of Jesus, our Savior. 

- Author Unknown

The season of Advent has arrived, ushering in a renewed commitment to service, reflection, and gratitude. In remembrance and celebration of the arrival of Jesus on earth, the La Salle community has come together to complete a variety of drives, fundraisers, and festivities to ensure the season is bright for all who celebrate.

Throughout December, students, staff, and families participated in the 22nd annual Christmas Drive in support of Lot Whitcomb Elementary School. A long standing tradition and partnership, Whitcomb counselors collected and shared information about a variety of families with the Office of Lasallian Ministry, including clothing sizes, interests, and age ranges. 35 home rooms then worked together to purchase, wrap, and donate over 450 gifts and necessities, including winter clothing, board games, art supplies, bicycles, and more.

The North Clackamas School District includes eight schools where at least 40% of families experience poverty. These schools receive federal funding to provide services such as free and reduced lunch and counseling, but are often in need of additional support over the holidays. The Christmas Drive aims to close this gap and provide La Salle students with a measurable way to serve their neighbors at Lot Whitcomb.

The act of each student wrapping their gifts was an important part of the process for Campus Ministry Associate Brianna Freitas, who spearheaded the drive. “One of the goals we had this year was to provide more meaning for the students rather than [the drive] just being transactional, just about buying something and not connecting to anything,” Freitas explained. “Which is why we brought back the wrapping party this year. It gives it a little more purpose … hearing them make connections and humanize who they were buying their gifts for was really cool to see.”

Seniors Jazzy Keenan-Mudrick and Bailey Fronk experienced these connections themselves when they got to pick out gifts for two Whitcomb students. “My student asked for a pajama onesie set,” Keenan-Mudrick said. “So I got him two Spider-Man pajama sets and a beanie that went with the color theme.”

Fronk gifted her student with a friendship bracelet making kit, complete with charms and accessories. “I got to wrap it with other people and listen to music which was a lot of fun,” she said. “It is a great tradition.”

While the Christmas Drive is La Salle’s largest service event of the season, it is far from the only. The month of November boasted two additional drives: the Earth Club’s Winter Coat Drive for the Wichita Center and the Spanish II sponsored Hygiene Drive for the St. Vincent de Paul Chapter at St. Rita's Parish. Additionally, leadership students organized a dedicated fundraiser for a sister Lasallian school in Kenya. These service initiatives encapsulate the spirit of Advent, allowing students to cherish their own gifts of love and share them with their brothers and sisters beyond the walls of La Salle.