Christmas is once again around the corner. Children are happily writing out their Christmas lists and counting down the days until Santa arrives. On Christmas morning, they will dash into their parents’ rooms, jumping up and down with excitement, ready to open their gifts. However, for nearly fifteen million kids across the United States, there will be no presents under the tree. North Augusta High School’s Teacher Cadet class works to aid this issue.
The Christmas Child program is a long-time tradition within the North Augusta High School community as well as the North Augusta community. “We have kids in this building who have benefited from this program, I don’t know how many people realize that,” says Mr. Craig Gilstrap, “This has been going on for well over 30 years.” Each year, North Augusta sponsors approximately 40 children, ranging from infants to pre-teens. Beginning in November, Christmas lists are distributed to participating classes and clubs. They are then collected over a period of time, to later be paraded around the gym during the annual Christmas Assembly. In the program’s history, North Augusta High School has donated gifts to over twelve-hundred children in North Augusta.
The Christmas Assembly and Christmas Child program were started by the late Martha Butts, who passed away earlier this year. Mrs. Butts has greatly impacted North Augusta High School alums and many of her former students have donated money to the Christmas Child program in her honor. The Friday before Thanksgiving break, North Augusta’s Class of 2005 donated a check of one-thousand dollars. In addition, Teacher Cadet hosts an annual fundraiser for the program. They then use the money raised to go out and buy any items that a child may not have received on their list. This usually consists of the more expensive items, such as bikes.
North Augusta is grateful for the contributions of Mrs. Martha Butts, as well as current and former Teacher Cadet students. Together they have made the program a great success.
Photo Credit: Emma Carter
Pictured: Christmas Child assembly of 2019
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