Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos orphanage in San Andres, Guatemala needs shoes, school supplies, and hygiene products. Two groups of 24 BSM students will be going there this summer to take these items to the orphanage and do service work.

The students going on the trips are in charge of collecting donations to take to Guatemala. There are six different groups of eight students, each responsible for collecting items from a certain area. The students are trying to reach the goal of their group by the end of May.

Students are going out to stores, churches, schools, friends, family, and neighbors trying to get donations. “We emailed and wrote letters to stores asking for help, but our requests are still being processed,” said Madeline Morin. Morin’s group is in charge of sock and underwear donations.

“Last year, we took the same kinds of donations to Guatemala, but this year our system is more organized,” said Morin. The items were received with gratitude by the orphanage last year. “It was great to see all the kids so happy there when we handed out the donations. It seemed like it was Christmas for them,” said senior Taylor Burns, who went on the trip last year.

“The orphanage needs 385 pairs of tennis shoes, and that’s our main goal,” said Ms. Katie McDonald, one of the trip leaders. The drive for hygiene products at BSM was done several weeks ago, but “we still have a long way to go,” said Ms. McDonald. Groups are still working on collecting things like sporting goods, school supplies, shoes, and socks from different sources.

BSM students may have noticed signs around school encouraging them to bring in shoes to donate. This is happening the week of May 19-23, and shoes can be dropped off in the main lobby. Also, everyone that donates shoes is eligible to win iPod speakers.

Meredith Neville