Gift of Giving at OCMS

Growing up, Oldham County Middle School math teacher Daniel Schulz didn’t have the money to participate in the Angel Tree program, so when the opportunity presented itself, he developed a toy drive program at OCMS in Buckner, KY.

The program allows students to purchase a $5-$10 gift for a child age infant to 12. When the program started over 10 years ago, 86 gifts were donated. This year, under the direction of teachers Erin Sanford, Katie Stephens and the OCMS Student Council, 350 toys were collected and donated to the Oldham County Red Cross Service Center.

The Red Cross will distribute the gifts to qualifying families starting December 15. Dan said that in order to keep the gifts as anonymous as possible, students and school staff do not participate in the distribution phase.

“Every kid has their own imagination of how their present helps somebody,” he said. “They want to help out; it’s just showing them how they can help as kids that’s the big thing.”

OCMS students sort toys donated by their peers.

Students at OCMS also get a chance to work with the Oldham County Red Cross during their holiday food drive. In its 22nd year, the food drive has collected over 450,000 cans for the Red Cross food pantry, and Dan hopes to hit the half million mark this year!

You can support the OCMS food drive by taking part in “Oldham County Community Collection Day” Saturday, Dec. 11. Students will be colleting canned goods for six hours at Wal-Mart and Save-A-Lot in La Grange, KY. Last year the event brought in 3,000 cans. You can also make donations at various OCMS sporting events and student concerts.