SOTI Steps Up Again for Homeless

School of the Incarnation continued its tradition of generosity at Christmastime on Thursday, as students stuffed hundreds of backpacks to be delivered to homeless people in the Baltimore area. 

For the seventh year in a row, the school-wide effort raised tens of thousands of dollars to support the charity Giving Back in its efforts to provide warm clothing and other essentials for the region’s most vulnerable residents. 

Students from the Catholic School in Gambrills lined into the school gymnasium Thursday tp fill the backpacks with socks, gloves and hats, which will be delivered on Christmas Eve to those living in streets and in shelters. 

School of the Incarnation raised more than $21,500 toward the backpack drive, and the total was still rising Thursday, teacher and organizer Sandi Duglonski said. The school has historically contributed more than half of all the money Giving Back raised from all sources. 

“The school’s involvement means a lot because we want to be able to bring stuff to the people who need it to survive, but secondly, in doing that we want to engage young people in a meaningful and educational way about giving back as opposed to always thinking about themselves,” said Bob Kight, a volunteer with Giving Back. 

Giving Back volunteers will continue collecting items at the Annapolis Farmers Market through Dec. 23. On Dec. 24, volunteers will distribute backpacks to 24 area shelters and on the streets of Baltimore. 

Since starting its participation in the backpack program in 2006, School of the Incarnation students have raised more than $130,000, representing nearly 5,500 backpacks.