The Season of Giving

The season of giving is here, but as many of our past and current families know, service to the community is a core value for our school community all year long. A major part of receiving an exceptional education, formed in faith is teaching our students to ask: “How can we serve our neighbors in need?” CLS has partnerships with local organizations and works to support their missions each week during our weekly chapel service. Students bring in offerings each week to support organizations such as Carroll County Food Sunday, Habitat for Humanity, and Shepherd’s Staff among others. In just the last 3 weeks alone, CLS students donated 349 cans, boxes, and packages of food for two food banks in Carroll County.  This is the perfect opportunity for teachers and families to discuss the importance of giving back and how something as simple as a jar of peanut butter, shampoo, trash bags, or baby diapers not only help those in need get by financially but also help to instill a sense of dignity for all of God’s children.

This Christmas season, CLS is continuing its longstanding tradition of participating in Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan’s Purse. In 1993, Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham received a call from a man in England asking if he would be interested in filling shoeboxes with gifts for children in war-torn Bosnia.  That year alone, with the help of fellow pastors, 28K shoeboxes were filled.  Every year since, Samaritan’s Purse has collected shoebox gifts filled with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items for children around the world. Since 1993, more than 198 million children in more than 170 countries and territories have received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox. The project delivers not only the joy of what, for many kids, is their first gift ever, but also gives them a tangible expression of God’s love. This past week, CLS students filled 121 shoeboxes with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items that will be delivered to children in need around the world.

Students will also be making an impact locally this Christmas season through our community outreach project with Shepherd’s Staff. Our chapel collection for November 30th and December 7th will help to provide filled Christmas stockings for local children in need. We are collecting items for infants, toddlers, and school-aged children so that they too can experience the joy of Christmas. We will also have a Giving Tree in the foyer for convenient donation drop-off.

At CLS, we are committed to creating opportunities for service learning for students of all ages and have seen first-hand how it shapes well-rounded individuals of faith during their time at CLS and beyond. If you know of an organization that could use the blessing of CLS, please reach out to the school at 410-848-1050.  Although we cannot guarantee that we can support all organizations, as a faith-based community, we can include you in our prayers and continue to find ways to support you. 

May you celebrate Thanksgiving Day with love in your heart, prosperous vision in your mind, and gratitude in your being.