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Mollie Kessler School brings Christmas delivery
By Denise Dick
youngstowN
CJ Thomas, 7, a second-grader at Mollie Kessler School, hopes the gifts he and his classmates collected for the families at the Rescue Misson of the Mahoning Valley brings some happiness Christmas morning.
“I hope they like them,” he said. “I hope they really like them.”
Students, teachers and parents delivered six carloads of items Tuesday to the mission.
Teacher Courtney Cruz said the items include toys, books, clothes, tooth- brushes, food, snack and drink packs for each child, personal-care items and a monetary donation.
Cruz said General Motors, Salem Community Hospital and Dr. John Natta contributed to the effort.
Rose Pixley, supervisor of the mission’s family- services department, said the gifts will go to the 28 children living at the mission.
“There are so many people in need — we have a family of five that came in yesterday,” she said.
The mission gave a list of the children’s names to the school with suggestions for items the children needed.
“This is going to make a lot of children smile mainly,” Pixley said. “They are going to be so overwhelmed.”
Parents too, will be pleased to see their children receive items they themselves likely wouldn’t be able to provide, she said.
This marks the second year Mollie Kessler has completed the mission gift delivery.
Before that, the children collected items for the mission for Easter.
The bags of gifts filled the Rescue Mission lobby — numbering too many to fit under the tree.
Second-grader Melina John, 7, donned reindeer antlers for the gift delivery.
“Happy” is how she hopes the gift recipients feel when they receive their bounty Christmas morning.