SAN ANTONIO – U.S. Army North had boots on the ground for a good cause at a San Antonio Independent School District elementary school on Wednesday.
Soldiers and civilian personnel delivered gifts they collected to students at John J. Pershing Elementary.
It is an annual event that brings Christmas cheer and smiles early.
Army North is based at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston and the elementary school is not far from the military post.
Army Captain Robert Lajeunesse, who serves as the Army North’s school liaison, said the command and the school have a special relationship.
He said Pershing Elementary has been Army North’s local adopt-a-school partner since 2011.
Over the years, part of that relationship has included a toy drive for students that starts right after Thanksgiving when they receive the students’ wish lists.
“We have a relatively short window between after Thanksgiving to now before they go home for the holiday break,” Lajeunesse said. “Our personnel turnaround, they go shopping on Black Friday if they can or that two weeks, two-and-a-half week period, and they get as many gifts as they can for the kids.”
Lajeunesse said Pershing has about 320 students and the goal was to collect as many of the items the kids requested on the list.
Items wanted and collected this year included Legos, footballs and 30 bicycles.
He said fulfilling the students’ Christmas wishes takes effort from all Army North personnel.
“It’s not just the couple of folks over here. There are hundreds of people that contribute to this to make it real special for these kids,” Lajeunesse said.
Fifth-grade students Jay Anthony Perales and Mia Galvan said they are thankful for the gifts of kindness from the members of Army North.
“I appreciate this from the soldiers,” Perales said. “I’m grateful that I get them before Christmas.”
“I think (it) is pretty good to receive my gifts before Christmas,” Galvan said.
Lajeunesse said the reaction from the students at Pershing Elementary makes the toy drive worth it.
“It’s just a special thing that we take pride in every year that a lot of our folks that have been with Army North for a while, and every year, they’re looking forward to it,” Lajeunesse said.
Army North delivered the toys just in time for students to receive them before Christmas break, which was their goal.
According to the district’s school calendar, Thursday is the last day before the break begins.