This year, the Vandegrift High School Basketball Team and Legacies Dance Team are leading a service project to honor Lt. Matthew Vandegrift and his family. Our school will be sending care packages overseas to Matthew Vandergrift’s brother, Barrett, and his military unit, who are currently deployed to Afghanistan.
Senior Chris Fernandes is one of the coordinators of this service project.
“Operation Santa drop is a great cause because it gives Vandegrift High School students and the greater community the ability to send care packages to active duty soldiers,” Fernandes said.
Each day this week, students are being asked to bring an item to be put in the care packages. Monday was “The Comforts of Home”, where students were encouraged to bring toiletries and essentials such as soap, deodorant, baby powder, toothbrushes and toothpaste, baby wipes, and mouth wash. Tuesday was “Salty Treats”, where students could bring snacks like beef jerky, pretzels, chips, crackers, microwavable popcorn, and other non-perishable food items. Wednesday was “Leisure”, where students can bring in games and leisure activities for the care packages, such as magazines, cards, books, and Sudoku puzzles. Thursday is “Drinks on the Go”, where students are encouraged to bring in powered drinks that can be easily shipped, such as Crystal Light, hot chocolate, tea, and Gatorade. And last, but not least, Friday is “Sweet Treats”, where students are being asked to bring desserts, such as cookies, candy, gum, and granola bars.
Together, our school can make soldier’s holidays a little brighter by sending these packages to them to show them our school cares. The packaging assembly will be held Thursday, November 21st, in the VHS cafeteria at 7pm. All goods should be turned in by that date.
“Operation Santa drop is a fantastic way to honor soldiers that are risking their lives to provide us with our freedom. As Americans, we often look past the simple freedoms that we enjoy on a daily basis. Operation Santa drop is a great because it gives the Vandegrift community the ability to realize what these soldiers are doing, and provides the community with a small way to do their part in giving back to these brave men and women, even if that is only donating a few items to include in a care package,” Fernandes said.