Catholic Central High School students delivering gifts to families in need

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- It is a Catholic Central High School tradition that days back to, at least, the 1960s.

Each year, the students deliver wrapped Christmas gifts to families in need. Today, 33 local families will receive the gifts, or 181 people.

Assistant Principal Morgan Lamoreaux says Catholic Central works with the Cathedral of Saint Andrew next door, on Sheldon Boulevard. The church has a Giving Tree project in which families can apply to be selected to receive Christmas gifts.

"This year, we were actually able to do every single family that applied," Lamoreaux told WOOD Radio News. "We didn't have to say no to anyone, so that was great."

More than 180 people are receiving gifts this year.

"(The students) go knock on the door, and a lot of the times the families will invite the right in and say, 'Come inside, put the gifts down here.' So, they get to have that full experience," Lamoreaux said. "Goodness, I don't know if I can fully put words on the impact that it has on our students."

Before the gifts are delivered, students are organized into 32 small groups, each of which was assigned a family to provide gifts to.

"All of our students participate in some way, whether it be purchasing gifts or helping to organize and wrap and deliver," Lamoreaux explained. "The 33rd family is taken on by our staff, who aren't involved in those groups.

"In terms of value (of the gifts), that would be pretty hard to estimate," she continued. "We have a sheet that comes in that has requests from the family. We ask them for requests of clothing but, also, other things they might need."

That could be items needed for a given house, such as basic needs, or toys that kids requested for Christmas.

"I know that we've got a couple bikes around here, and at least one computer that's being given to a family. So, a really wide range of value there," Lamoreaux said.

And another type of value you cannot put a price tag on, in giving to those in need.

"Absolutely, Lamoreaux said. "I think that's one of my favorite parts of this."

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