The Christmas Baskets Program

The packing and giving of Christmas baskets was one of the earliest charity games that Bonita taught her family. The children loved stuffing the baskets with food, clothing, quilts that they had made, toys, shoes and whatever they thought a needy family could use.

Then came the fun of delivering these treasures to the families. Bonita would make sure that they were all dressed in cheery Christmas attire. Then they would stuff the current family car with the baskets, leaving barely enough room for the family, and requiring several trips.

Delivering baskets meant they would get to meet families they had never met. Once they arrived at the home of a chosen family, Bonita would line them up behind the basket and they would sing carols, until the family came to see who was singing. The family loved the surprised and thankful looks on the faces of the needy families. Sometimes, they would knock and hide, then jump out singing a carol.

Thus it was natural that Bonita’s new school would continue the Christmas Basket tradition. Somewhere along the way, the baskets became plastic tubs that would hold more goodies and the empty tubs were more useful to the needy families.

The Christmas Tub program has grown to 300 tubs, each specially packed for a recipient family, with a quilt, or quilts, food, shoes and clothing selected for each member of the family, and toys for any small children.

The applications for tubs are submitted by community leaders, bishops, ministers, priests, and members of the school community. Those submitting an application are instructed to think of families that would have no Christmas without our tub.