During the holiday season, many people wonder how they can give back and help others in need. Fortunately, the GSHS DECA club has made it easy by hosting two meaningful drives that allow everyone to contribute to those in need, both locally and overseas.
The first drive is a collaboration with Sisters Angels, a charity that has been providing Christmas gifts to children in the Tampa Bay area for over 14 years with support from the Salvation Army. The second drive is a book drive, which aims to bring the gift of literature to underprivileged schools in the Philippines, offering a chance to make a global impact this holiday season.
Starting with Sisters Angels, the charity focuses on giving back to the less fortunate in our community, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to experience the magic of Christmas. This mission has been upheld for years through partnerships with organizations like the Salvation Army. As one of the Sisters Angels’ leaders, senior Lauren Kuba, shared, “It definitely means a lot to us. We grew up being able to have a Christmas every Christmas and seeing gifts under the tree, so being able to provide that for other kids is personally rewarding for both of us.”
Sisters Angels is more than just a charity—it’s a family tradition. According to sophmore Emily Kuba, another leader of the organization, her aunt began the initiative over a decade ago. “My aunt, back like twelve years ago, did it with her friends because she just wanted to get a bunch of bikes and Christmas presents for younger kids. A couple of years later, she included me and my sister in it. About three years ago, she decided to pass it on to us full-time, and we just continued the Christmas spirit,” Emily explained.
This year, Sisters Angels has already donated numerous bicycles and many other gifts to their recipients. The process is a collaborative effort, with Steinbrenner High School and DECA students playing a key role. Emily shared the logistics: “Steinbrenner partners with DECA to collect all the donations, then we go shopping for clothing, toys, and bikes. The Salvation Army truck comes to Steinbrenner to pick up the gifts, and from there, they distribute them to the families.”
The DECA club’s second initiative, the book drive, has an equally impactful mission—sharing the joy of learning and reading with students in underfunded schools in the Philippines. By contributing books, participants are giving children access to knowledge and opportunities they might not otherwise have.
These efforts demonstrate how much can be accomplished when communities come together. Whether it’s providing toys for local children or books for students across the globe, DECA and its partners are ensuring that educational sources will reach everyone this holiday season. Coach Szponar, the advisor for DECA, states that the goal of the drive is “…to provide educational resources to undeserved schools in the Philippines, promoting literacy and empowering students to reach their full potential!”
These initiatives taken by the GSHS DECA Co-Curricular club have given thousands of kids gifts this holiday season and provided educational opportunities to underfunded schools overseas. These charities allowed many others to prosper and be given items or educational objects they would not have gained under any other circumstances, a large undertaking by this Co-Curricular club yet successful, nonetheless.
