Santa's elves to visit Webster Elementary School | Press Releases

A Shelton, Conn., Mom and daughter are hoping an early visit to an inner-city school by some of Santa's helpers will help brighten the holiday for some 300 kindergarten through third-graders.

During school breaks, Staci Luba, a junior at Fairfield University, substitutes at Webster Elementary School in Bridgeport where her Mom Roseann teaches kindergarten. Although efforts have been made in the past to see that each child received a toy for Christmas, the School has had difficulty finding a sponsor for all the children. During the last few years only enough toys were donated for one grade level.

Staci felt other students at Fairfield would respond to such a need and she was right. With the help of Resident Hall Advisors, a drive was organized in each of the school's residence halls.

On Wednesday, December 13, the students, a.k.a Santa's helpers, will visit the school to deliver a gift to each child. "The response was tremendous," said Staci.

In addition to the toy drive, other campus projects that are helping to bring meaning to the Christmas season are:

Juniors Kate Coleman and Morgan Peddicord, who took a course in "Homlessness: Causes and Consequences," collected sweaters, gloves and mittens that they delivered to Operation Hope in Fairfield and Bridgeport Rescue Missions.
Alumni Relations is spearheading a collection on campus of teddy bears to give to children in hospitals; children with a parent who is incarcerated; and the Center for Women and Families in Bridgeport for children of women of domestic violence. Last year they collected over 600 teddy bears and they are well on their way this year.
Several offices on campus sign on to bring Christmas to families affected by AIDS. Working with the Evergreen Network, they will provide gifts for each member of nine families, as well as all the food for Christmas dinner. This is the ninth year Fairfield has participated in this effort.
Diane Nolan is conducting a toy drive for hospitalized children. She is offering free admission to the women's basketball game on Sunday to anyone who donates a toy.