As part of their commitment to community service, members of National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) at Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary School (SSBVM) in Middletown have collected 50 shoeboxes full of small gifts that will be distributed to children around the world through the Boxes of Joy program.

According to Cross Catholic Outreach, which administers the program, each Christmas shoebox contains gifts, such as toys, clothing, school supplies and hygiene items. Boxes are being collected by participants from parishes, schools and groups from throughout the United States. Each gift represents Christ's love and sometimes may be the only Christmas gift that children in developing countries receive. To learn more about the program, including donation information, visit http://www.crosscatholic.org/box-of-joy.

NJHS adviser Josh Koch explained that the students collaborated with the Council of Catholic Women at the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church to complete the project. For about six weeks, SSBVM students were asked to bring in a variety of items to fill the 50 boxes, such as hygiene products, socks, small toys and school supplies.

"We sent out a letter to the parents and asked that each grade bring in (specific items)," said Koch. For example, one grade was asked to bring in socks for girls and another grade, socks for boys. Another grade was asked to donate colored pencils.

"We also gave parents the option to donate $9 to cover the cost of the shipping," Koch noted.

The NJHS members gathered and sorted all the donations and then packed the boxes in preparation for blessing by the Rev. Timothy Sahd, Seven Sorrows pastor. "All of our boxes were blessed before they were sent to the Diocese of Harrisburg. From the diocese they will be sent to a Cross Catholic Outreach distribution center," said Koch. "The distribution center will in turn distribute them to children in need throughout the world."

The collection for the shoeboxes actually started this summer when the parish hosted its annual summer festival, during which Mindy Kennedy, SSBVM director of development, held a scavenger hunt.

"Mrs. Kennedy had a scavenger hunt in the nature lab during the summer festival and the NJHS members were there to facilitate that, and they handed out (candy) and temporary tattoo stickers," said Koch. "I had a box there that asked the parent to donate for Boxes of Joy. We received many donations that day."

The NJHS consists of students in seventh and eighth grades. To become an NJHS member, students must complete an application, which is then reviewed by a faculty committee. Students are admitted to the NJHS based on five categories: scholarship, leadership, citizenship, service and character. NJHS students are inducted during a ceremony held at the end of Catholic Schools Week, which is celebrated in January.

SSBVM, 360 E. Water St., Middletown, is a parochial elementary school serving students in prekindergarten through eighth grade. Visit http://www.sevensorrowsschool.com or email mkennedy@ssbvm.org to learn more. To schedule a tour, call 717-944-5371.