After months of planning, more than 15 Folger McKinsey Elementary School elves made a trip on Monday to Hilltop Elementary School in Glen Burnie to help bring Christmas cheer.

Hilltop Elementary School Principal Louise DeJesu thanked the Folger McKinsey parents and explained how this volunteer effort called Hilltop Sharing assists her students with Christmas and prepares them for success.

“There are 13 Title I schools in Anne Arundel County,” said DeJesu. “Hilltop has 570 students. We are at about 70 percent poverty. The next group is the working poor, but it’s really not the working poor. These are the people that can’t get free and reduced lunches, but have medical bills and whatever.”

DeJesu marveled at the outpouring of gifts, staged in the portable classroom by the Folger volunteers for later distribution.

“For seven years, [Folger] has committed themselves to giving, very graciously, under the radar, just helping families. This is incredible! This is absolutely God’s work. You are going to bring joy to kids right here in Anne Arundel County,” she said.

Karen Williams, Folger co-coordinator for Hilltop Sharing, said the school started preparing after Halloween to get the gifts, wrap them and deliver them to the school. Read more...