With Christmas quickly approaching, MCHS Rotary Interact, along with Anchor Club, JAG, and Madison FFA have put together a 12 Days of Christmas donation drive for the Salvation Army. Lists were created with an edited version of the 12 Days of Christmas song, urging students to donate and compile the exact number of each item, or more. MCHS students began donating Wednesday, November 30th, and the drive ended Thursday, December 15th. Donation boxes are overflowing and have turned into donation tables.

The Salvation Army is an international movement whose mission is to feed, clothe, comfort, and care. They are a non-profit organization that strives to provide for the less fortunate of 7,560 communities throughout the United States. Each center provides multiple sources of aid such as food distribution, disaster relief, anti-human trafficking, children’s programs, and rehabilitation centers. According to Salvation Army USA, the organization is motivated by the love of God, and “its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.”

Students like senior Emily Beaumont and faculty at MCHS believe that this drive was successful do to its creativity.

Beaumont said, “I think the creativity of the drive helped with its awareness because the Twelve Days of Christmas is a well known Christmas song, and I thought it was really cute and creative.”

MCHS teacher Stephanie Shaw said, “I like the gimmick of the twelve days of Christmas. It helped focus in on some specific items the Salvation Army needed to get through the winter time.”

Shaw gave each of the six classes she teaches a separate copy of the “12 Days of Giving” song and urged them to bring in the items listed. After 11 school days of collecting, the donation box has reached its capacity.

“I am pumped about the mountain of items in the back of my room. I am excited that so many students brought in a variety of items. Three of my classes brought in the whole list, and my other classes did some. I’m proud.” Beaumont said, “I think the drive was pretty successful because it started as a tiny donation box in Mrs. Shaw’s room, and now the table looks like a mountain. I think that we will be able to donate a lot of stuff to the Salvation Army and a lot of people will get good use out of the items donated.”

MCHS senior, Amber Powers thinks the drive should not cease. “I think the drive like this should be put on again next year because it is really helpful for the Salvation Army, and it can help a lot of people in our community. I think it is really rewarding to be able to help people that are less fortunate.”