Since Community Service Director Marci Bahr started at St. John’s in 2004, the School has participated in a holiday drive, partnering in the past few years with Be A Resource (BEAR) to hold the drive.

This year, advisories can instead choose between filling a laundry basket with staples such as flour, rice and toilet paper for a family at Small Steps Nurturing Center or buying items off of an Amazon wishlist for a family at the Ronald McDonald House. 

“Giving advisories the flexibility to do what they want still has a similar impact that will leave people feeling like they’ve done something good,” Community Service Officer Rachel Kim said. 

Small Steps Nurturing Center is an organization that operates two preschools in Houston for economically disadvantaged children. The project will provide 40 families with basic necessities for their household.

The Ronald McDonald House supports families with children who are battling serious illnesses. They provide housing, meals and other things families might need. Similar to Small Steps Nurturing Center, the wish list includes practical items for these families.

“There are so many options in this city, and the need is so great,” Bahr said. “Just focusing on one organization year after year didn’t seem as egalitarian as we like to be.” 

BEAR allowed the St. John’s community to purchase gifts for children in Child Protective Services. According to Bahr, the holiday drive project serves as a bonding opportunity for advisories.

“As you’re working, you see lots of other Houstonians coming in and bringing their gifts,” Bahr said. “It makes us realize two things: the need out there is so great but what makes it so good is that our Houston community is so very generous, and by the end of the drive, city-wide, those kids have brand-new gifts under the tree.”

New Advisory Liaisons are leading Community Service projects with their advisees. 

“It gives those students a great opportunity to lead and to show what they can do,” Bahr said.