Staff from all USD 232 buildings joined local community organizations and businesses to "adopt" a total of 81 families, with a total of 205 kids, for Operation Christmas 2024. The donated gifts of toys, clothing, household essentials, and other items are gathered for each family to pick up at the USD 232 Administrative Offices. Here, district staff and students help each adopted family load their gift items in time for the holidays.

Since this program was started within our district in 2013, over 600 families have been served with a total of 1,474 kids. Nikki Leisten, the media specialist at Lexington Trails Middle School, and Coleen Marney, the math apecialist at Starside Elementary, take on the task of organizing Operation Christmas each year for the district. They work hand-in-hand with USD 232 school social workers and counselors to help identify the families within our district who are in need.

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