‘Bus to Bethlehem’ leads to better holiday for needy children
Just as a star led the Wise Men, bearing gifts, to Bethlehem for the first Christmas, St. Sebastian Regional Catholic School has teamed up with Connect Inc. to lead to a better holiday for needy children in the region.
Instead of the usual Santa Workshops or Secret Santas where students create presents for loved ones and employees swap gifts among themselves, the organizations have organized a “Bus To Bethlehem” that is collecting gifts for needy children in the Washington, Greene and Westmoreland counties.
“The joy of Christmas as viewed through the eyes of a child is magical,” said Lyndsay Burrik, executive director of Connect Inc. “Their delight at having a better Christmas is our goal and the whole motivation behind this cause.”
Connect Inc. is an affiliate of Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services Inc (SPHS). The organization and the Belle Vernon Area Ministerium Association joined forces with St. Sebastian when one of the employees, who attends the church came up with the idea. The groups created a list containing some 170 names of children in need at Christmas. The list includes clients of Connect Inc. housing programs and the Washington Family Center.
Connect Inc. provides a full range of services for the homeless, near-homeless and low-income individuals, children and families in the three-county area.
The bus is parked at St. Sebastian and will remain at the school, which is located in North Belle Vernon, until Saturday. After that date, the items will be brought to the SPHS offices, located in Charleroi, and distributed to the agencies for immediate dissemination to the children
“I can’t express how much it means not only to give them a great Christmas, but for the parents-when they are living paycheck to paycheck-to give them an opportunity to give to their children something they want for Christmas,” said Burrik.
The St. Sebastian website lists the needs of the children, who are not named. They are identified only by a number as well as their age and gender. Listed, too, are some suggested needs and what gifts can be purchased for the children for Christmas.
The list was sent out to all of the school families as well as the four churches in the area.
The list for can be viewed at the St. Sebastian website, www.sssbv.org – family resources – Bus to Bethlehem.
Once a child is chosen, the giver is asked to email the number selected so it can be removed from the list to prevent duplicates. Those emails can be directed to: mwatson@sssbv.org. Wrapped gifts can be dropped off daily at the school.
“The spirit of Christmas is giving and this cause is giving right in our own area,” explained Michelle Watson, development coordinator for St. Sebastian.
Watson added that she will hang bus ornaments on a tree in the school signifying the children who are being provided with gifts.
“We wanted it to be meaningful for our students, for them to be able to buy a toy for a child their own age,” Watson said.