Christmas Giving

For the past decade, the Jesuit service club Agmen Christi and children in the Migrant Education Program (MEP) have had a special relationship, connecting several times a year and always during the holidays.

This year, dozens of migrant children and their families joined 15 members of Agmen Christi plus several Academy of the Holy Names students for a Christmas party on Sunday, Dec. 4 at Robinson Elementary in Plant City.

The school's cafeteria was decorated for Christmas and teeming with joy, camaraderie, smiles, and happiness. Agmen members gave more than 50 personalized gifts to the children in the MEP, fulfilling specific gift requests and wrapping a present for every request.

Also lending to the Christmas spirit and festive atmosphere were Mr. and Mrs. Claus, who made the long trip from the North Pole; lots of crafts and games; pizza and pastries; and James Slack '24 leading the students and children in karaoke singing. Migrant advocate Julie Snyder, P '16, who has been recognized by Hillsborough County as a leading diversity educator, helped coordinate the event.

Club members pictured below are L-R front row Matthew Griffith '23, Andre Botero '23, Devin Stevens '23, Zach Marquis '23, and Cam Bailey '23, and L-R back row Brayden McAnally '24, Dutch Iavarone '25, Grayson Gallagher '23, James Slack '24, Owen Mitchell '23, Cooper Kasper '24, Grant Creedican '23, Alejandro Vargas '24, Phillip Falcon '23, and school president Fr. Richard C. Hermes, S.J.; not pictured but also participating at Robinson Elementary on Dec. 4 were Matthew Dolan '23 and Agmen Christi moderator David Mammola.

For many more photos from this event go to the Facebook page Jesuit High School of Tampa.