Youngsters who live in impoverished countries will receive shoeboxes full of gifts this Christmas season thanks to the efforts of students living a world away.

Members of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) at Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary School (SSBVM) in Middletown are currently collecting items for the Boxes of Joy program, which is administered by Cross Catholic Outreach. Each shoebox contains gifts, such as toys, clothing, school supplies and hygiene items.

The monthlong collection started at the end of September at SSBVM and will conclude on Wednesday, Oct. 25.

"Last year, we collected 50 boxes, so that is our goal again this year," said NJHS adviser Josh Koch. "Once we receive all of the donations, we will pack up the boxes and see how many we actually have. The NJHS members will stay after school to package them."

Koch noted that the students collaborated with the Council of Catholic Women at the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church to complete the project. "We are joining them and supporting them in this ministry," he said. "We want to help support the parish as much as they support (the school)."

SSBVM students have been asked to bring in a variety of items to fill the boxes. "We sent out a letter to the parents and asked that each grade bring in specific items," said Koch. "For example, eighth grade is being asked to bring in hair bands or hair ties and small journals. We are also asking for colored pencils, crayons, school supplies, (toy) cars, yo-yos and hygiene items like bars of soap, washcloths and toothbrushes.

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

Principal Angela Warner has been reminding the students about the effort during morning prayer and announcements. "(She explained that) their donations will go to children throughout the world who don't have as much as we do," Koch noted.

According to Cross Catholic Outreach, each gift represents Christ's love and sometimes may be the only Christmas gift that these children receive. To learn more about the program, including donation information, visit http://www.crosscatholic.org/box-of-joy.

The boxes collected at SSBVM will be blessed the Rev. Timothy Sahd, Seven Sorrows pastor, and then they will be sent to the Diocese of Harrisburg. "From the diocese they will be sent to a Cross Catholic Outreach distribution center," Koch noted.

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 council. Students are admitted to the NJHS based on five pillars: 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 to learn more. To schedule a tour, call 717-944-5371.