Santa’s Workshop returns to elementary school

Santa’s Workshop is returning to Vestavia Hills Elementary East this year. The Santa’s Workshop project is an annual event where students make goodie bags for students in inner-city schools.

The project kicks off with “caring and sharing week,” during which each class is assigned a certain snack item — granola, grits, oatmeal, snack bars, fruit cups and more — and students are encouraged to bring that item to school. Then all of the food is collected, and the students use some of their physical education time to assemble bags by going to different stations and picking out snacks.

Laura Tucker, a Parent Teacher Organization member in charge of Santa’s Workshop, said the event teaches kids about giving back and the meaning of Christmas. 

In addition to their snacks, students will place a stuffed animal in the bag and write and decorate a card.

“It’s really neat because the kids learn that they’re bringing the food items and then they’re giving that food away,” Tucker said.

Everyone is able to participate, even students who do not donate food or snack items. Students make between 750 and 800 bags a year to donate to an elementary school with a similar number of students in Birmingham.

Tucker said this will be the third year they are donating to a school, and they appreciate the opportunity to give back.

“We are actually really thankful that they let us keep doing it because it’s a good lesson for our kids, and they have always been so grateful and happy to do it with us,” Tucker said.