St. Pius Continues to Spread Christmas Joy at Dresden Elementary

For the fifth consecutive year, the community has teamed up with to adopt families and help share in the celebration of Christmas. The partnership is coordinated by the St. Pius Mothers’ Club as a way to help those in need have a memorable holiday season.

This year, St. Pius will help 169 Dresden Elementary students from 57 families.  All of the children in the family receive gifts, including older or younger siblings who may not attend Dresden. The main focus is on articles of clothing for the children. Each child, on average, receives two outfits, a coat, shoes, fleece blanket, a hygiene kit and several toys. In addition to the individual gifts, each family received a gift card for groceries as well. The youngest child this year is 3 months old and the oldest is 17 years old.

"This project exemplifies the community of St. Pius," Mothers’ Club member and Dresden Partnership Co-Chair, Debra Coheley said. "It is not just giving of money and gifts, the SPX community comes together and gives from their hearts to help their less fortunate neighbors to brighten their holiday."

St. Pius students and parents purchase the gifts, sort and wrap them and staff the pick-up station or deliver the gifts to the parents. Twenty-six St. Pius sports teams, clubs and fine arts groups are participating in addition to numerous St. Pius families, groups of students and corporate offices of St. Pius parents. 

"The outpouring of support from the St. Pius community has been tremendous," Coheley said. "Every time we receive a request for assistance from Dresden, there is such a wonderful response from the Pius community."

St. Pius and Dresden Elementary have partnered for several years through the school and the Mothers’ Club. In addition to the Christmas Project, other activities include: teacher luncheons and coffees, a school supply drive, a used coat drive, a used uniform drive and book drive. St. Pius students also provide tutoring two days a week, Spanish translators for various events and a movement and dance program for the students.