IPS Students Spread Holiday Cheer

INDIANAPOLIS — Eleanor Skillen School 34 recently delivered Bags of Cheer to Indianapolis businesses and holiday shoppers. The bags, decorated by sixth-grade students, were filled with items made by pupils in other grade levels, including “reindeer food,” dog bones, gift tags, ornaments, snowflakes and a hot chocolate treat. It was the first year the entire school participated in the gift-giving. In total, students delivered 500 bags to destinations that included businesses on Monument Circle, local libraries and community centers. Read More
In addition, the Cold Feet, Warm Shoes and Hats event included a partnership with the Indianapolis Colts and LIDS Foundation to fit students at Wendell Phillips School 63 with new hats and 500 pairs of shoes.
Shortridge High School opened Forest of Peace exhibit, which is open to the public through Feb. 1. Viewing is available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. All IPS schools were invited to participate in Forest of Peace by designing a tree that symbolizes their interpretation of peace through the type of tree, ornaments and other decorations chosen. The individual trees — a mixture of real and artificial — provide a varied and unique perspective of peace through the eyes of our city’s youth. The school is located at 3401 N. Meridian.
JROTC cadets at Arlington High School distributed hundreds of boxes of food. On Thurs., Dec. 7, 14 cadets volunteered their time assembling more than 400 packing boxes, unloading tractor trailers filled with food, and sorting the food items into boxes for those in need. It was all part of “Packing Day” for the Christmas Help Program for the Rev. Richard Hunter Ministries. They packed 420 family food boxes filled with hams, turkeys, potatoes, greens, bananas, sweet potatoes, and more — enough food to provide 3,300 people a holiday meal.
William McKinley School 39 opened Caring Closet to help families get through the holidays. Thanks to donations from more than one dozen businesses and organizations, the school has been able to stock the closet with food, cleaning supplies, personal hygiene products, school supplies, backpacks and clothing — including winter coats, hats, gloves and scarves. They opened the Closet on  Dec. 12 so families in need could “shop” for needed items.