Students at Borel Middle School are making sure U.S. troops stationed overseas are getting their share of holiday cheer.
On Thursday, Borel Assistant Principal Lana Fenech delivered 38 gift-wrapped boxes containing various goodies to San Mateo City Hall for delivery to troopers of the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division, which is currently stationed in Afghanistan. The 101st Airborne Division is the adopted unit of the city of San Mateo.
More than 90 students from grades 6-8 were involved in a weeks-long project to make holiday cards, collect gifts, and wrap the boxes as part of a community service effort to share the holiday spirit with the young men and women serving our nation far from home, according to Borel Middle School teacher Susan Goldfarb.
The students involved the entire Borel Middle School community, including students, parents, and teachers to raise the money necessary to buy gifts for the 101st Airborne soldiers.
“The best part of the process is to watch the students as they make the packages and realize that they are doing something special for our soldiers who are protecting our country around the world,” said Goldfarb.
City of San Mateo employees will take the final step of mailing the packages to Afghanistan, where they will be distributed to the soldiers.
The 101st Airborne Division, Alpha Company, 1/327 Infantry Regiment, the “Screaming Eagles” have been the adopted unit of the City of San Mateo since 1968. Earlier this year, the unit visited San Mateo and marched in the Memorial Day parade in Downtown San Mateo.
“I am so proud of the spirit of goodwill exhibited by the students of Borel Middle School,” San Mateo Mayor David Lim said. “Their generous display of appreciation for the men and women of the 101st Airborne shows us all the true meaning of the holiday season.”
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