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Schools

SOTI Students Stuff Backpacks For Baltimore Homeless

School of the Incarnation students raised money to fill backpacks with winter supplies for homeless individuals living in Baltimore.

For the sixth year in a row, students and staff at the (SOTI) assembled backpacks to distribute to the homeless in Baltimore on Christmas Eve in a program called “Giving Back, Linda’s Legacy.”

The program was started by Linda Greenberg about 30 years ago and has grown stronger each year with many supporters. More information about the “Giving Back” program can be obtained here.

Each child at SOTI sponsored a backpack for $25. Some went even further by getting more donations from friends and family members. Some students forfeited birthday presents this year for donations to the program.

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The school community assembled 980 backpacks with the $25,000 raised.

Each backpack will include a hoodie sweatshirt, new gloves, a warm hat, thermal tops and bottoms and thermal socks. These backpacks will be distributed in Baltimore on Christmas Eve to those in need.

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In addition, each child made a Christmas card to put in the backpack they helped assemble. The point is for each recipient to know that someone cares about them and is praying for them, especially on Christmas Eve.

“It’s important for our students to put their faith in action,” SOTI principal Lisa Shipley said. “By teaching small children ways to give back to their community, they will be encouraged to be givers and doers the rest of their life.”

Event organizer Sandy Dlugonski said she has been facilitating this project for the past few years and it has been a strong and memorable experience. The joy she receives from this project reminds her of the true meaning of Christmas.

One group will head out with packed U-hauls on the morning of Dec. 24 and deliver some backpacks to various shelters in Baltimore. Another group will head out at 3 p.m. that day and deliver the backpacks to homeless people on the city streets.

Some SOTI students and their families will help deliver the backpacks.

“I feel so blessed to be part of a school that will take the needs of the community and act on it,” Dlugonski said. “This is a wonderful project that gets the entire school involved and excited.”

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