In the mood to spread some Christmas cheer and give the less fortunate the Christmas miracle they have been praying for, well good news!? All students were able to Bishop Gorman’s charity drive going on from Dec. 4th to Dec. 6th where every single gift was distributed to a struggling family living in our city through Catholic Charities.  However, you may be asking how can I donate now that the charity drive is over.

Well, every year Bishop Gorman sets up a charity drive around the season of giving to help provide for those who are less fortunate.  This year Bishop Gorman is providing for Angel Tree in partnership with Catholic Charities to further emphasize the organization’s mission statement.  The mission statement highlights that donations as well as providing food, shelter, and services to our community will help with “recognizing that each person is created in the image and likeness of God and that God’s compassion transforms lives.”

In order to fulfill their mission, Catholic Charities is fueled by grants, organizations, foundations, and donors because they believe that just one individual’s generosity contributes to not only one person’s life and future but the success of the community of Southern Nevada.  They are committed to family services, immigration services, homeless and housing services, and food services because this help transfers into granting the hope and wishes of the 16,000 Southern Nevadans experiencing homelessness.  According to Nevada Homeless Alliance, 19% of homeless individuals are in families with children making the joy of waking up in your bed on Christmas morning and running to see presents under the tree impossible.  With over 16,000 homeless individuals in southern Nevada, Bishop Gorman’s Angel Tree charity drive can help to positively impact these lives. “It is good for the world we live in, good for the community we are a part of and it’s good for us too,” said Bishop Gorman’s Chaplin, Father Jacob Knee.

Bishop Gorman’s campus minister, Greg Sinclair, and Father Knee want the community of Bishop Gorman to participate by granting the Christmas wish list of thousands of families all over southern Nevada.  “This can change the world,” said Father Knee.  Campus Ministry has organized the charity where each grade brings different items that are more than valuable to those who are homeless.  “Many of us at Gorman come from situations of some privilege in which we don’t really know what it is to be hungry, or to be cold, we don’t know what it is to be alone or live from a day to day,” said FatherKnee.

Growing up most kids learn that socks go on your feet but for people on the streets, socks can be used more for more than to keep their feet warm.  Long athletic socks can be used as bags, hats, gloves or scarfs.  “Socks are like gold on the streets,” said Sinclair.  Freshmen are asked to bring new men’s socks, men’s underwear, men’s hats, and men’s gloves.  “It feels good to know that such a small donation can make such a difference, and I’m happy to know that we [Bishop Gorman] are all brightening someone’s future,” said freshman Colton Martin 28’.  

Most students at Gorman can confidently say that they have always woken up to gifts under the tree on Christmas morning, but kids all over the world can say otherwise.  Sophomores are asked to bring a new unwrapped toy with a minimum price of $15 for those kids who still believe in that Christmas magic.  “I think it’s really nice that I go to a school that is so giving to the less fortunate and it really shows something little can go a long way, which makes me think very highly of Gorman,” said sophomore Adrianna Mazzara 27”. 

To help families with basic essential needs such as groceries, juniors are asked to bring a Vons, Smith’s, or Albertson gift card with the attached receipt and seniors are asked to bring a Walmart or Target gift card with the attached receipt.  Catholic Charities has decided to split up the gift cards because they understand that some of their client’s families might need groceries rather than blankets and vice versa.  “A gift card making a difference for one family in need really put my life into perspective and really made me grateful for all of the basic necessities that I have that I never really think about,” said senior Robert Engel 25’.  

You too can make a Donation today and make the biggest difference in one individual’s life.  

”The things we take for granted, others can never do because they can’t,” said Sinclair.