In recent weeks, the SAS PuDong campus community has been working hard to collect new coats, shoes, hats, gloves, scarves, and other Chinese New Year gifts, for the children of PuGuang Migrant School. This school is located in HeQing town, which the buses pass through every day on the new route to school, making it even more meaningful to our students. Not only are they helping local children, but they may even be able to see the results from the windows of the bus.

Our wonderful students and parents were able to provide a Chinese New Year gift bag to 545 students, covering each and every child in the school. Above and beyond PuGuang, we were able to raise over 16,000RMB for Community Center Shanghai, The Giving Tree program to use for other schools in need. 

Upon arriving at the migrant school to deliver the bags, we were surprised to find that, due to the width of the road leading to the school, the bus had to stop about a 1/2 kilometer short of its destination. Although, none of us mind walking a little, the thought of carrying over 500 bags that far, was a bit overwhelming! But in the spirit of the people of our host country, we were not to be deterred by this dilemma. We flagged down a small truck, which was passing by without a load, and asked if they could help us deliver our gifts, and had the principal of the school gather all of the older children. In no time at all, the bus was unloaded, and excited children were returning to class.

The day following delivery, we returned to PuGuang for a distribution ceremony. We were thrilled to be joined by a few high school students, the middle school choir, and the elementary student council. Each of the children at the school marched out into the courtyard carrying the bag that had been filled for them. They filed into neat rows and stood at attention, as a few other students raised the Chinese flag. This was followed by songs performed by the PuGuang school students, as well as our own Middle School choir, a few speeches, and then some time to meet the students we helped. It was a touching and happy morning, and one that we will not soon forget.

This would not have been possible without all those who filled a bag, contributed to a bag, or made a cash donation to this very worthy cause, including Michael Chao, who took control of the high school portion of our bags, and put together a group of 11th graders to help organize, deliver, and collect bags. Katie Ferguson, Evelyn Sun, and many other parents helped me through this process, as well as, of course, the 3rd and 5th graders who helped me collect bags. We couldn’t have done it without all of this help!

This holiday season we have a reason to be proud, as our generosity shined in the smile on a child’s face.

By Beth Arnold