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Sacramento’s
trees have shed their leaves, and the time is here for warm coats, hot
chocolate, gatherings with friends and seasonal celebrations. It is
also a special time for giving and sharing our blessings with others.
During this season, we seem to take to heart more readily the words of
St. Francis of Assisi that it is in giving that we receive or the
Hindu proverb, “They who give, have all things; they who withhold have
nothing.” Even the crusty and pragmatic Winston Churchill observed,
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
Throughout the year Sac City students and
employees make a practice of giving to others, but never more so than
at this time of year. Our Sacramento City Teachers Association
conducts an annual “socks and undies” drive for needy students.
Schools such as Caroline Wenzel are participating in the effort.
Other employees are contributing a portion of
their salaries to local charities including the Sacramento Educational
Foundation through the United Way Campaign. Other examples of sharing
include:
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C.K. McClatchy student participation in a local
television station’s Coats for Kids Drive (they have a 200-coat goal
this year)
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Phoebe Hearst drive for children’s items such
as knit hats and gloves, baby bottles, disposable diapers, baby
wipes, sweats and baby food
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H.W. Harkness student participation in a
garment drive for the PTA Clothes Closet, Kids Cans Program for
needy families and visiting a convalescent home to perform a play
for the home’s residents
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Edward Kemble students will walk to a
convalescent home to sing carols and take art
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Kennedy Ed Law pupils helped with clean-up at
Garcia Bend as part of the Love Your Levee program, conducted a
canned food drive, and helped with the Matsuyama Elementary School
Harvest Festival
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Golden Empire took part in the annual
Sacramento Food Drive and collected hundreds of canned food and
hygiene products
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Theodore Judah students and staff collected new
toys for the “Toys for Tots” Holiday Toy Drive
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Ethel Philips collected 2, 199 cans of food for
the Sacramento Food Bank
These efforts are only a partial list of how our
students and employees are creating beautiful lives by what they give
at this season and throughout the year.
I also want to take this opportunity to thank
former board member Dawn McCoy who gave her time and energy towards
helping Sac City fulfill its mission of ensuring the success of every
student by name. We appreciate her dedicated years of service to the
children and families of this community.
Finally, I wish each of you a joyful holiday
season and New Year enjoyed in the company of loved ones.
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