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Pay It Forward
JDE Teachers and Staff Deliver Gift Baskets to Children’s Organizations
Posted on 08/23/2017
This is the image for the news article titled JDE Teachers and Staff Deliver Gift Baskets to Children’s OrganizationsWhile Canutillo ISD is preparing for the arrival of students next week, those at Jose H. Damian Elementary are thinking of others in the greater El Paso community. As part of their campus theme this year, “Pay It Forward,” JDE teachers and staff kicked off the year by gathering toys, games and art supplies from other campuses and central office. Monday, August 21, the teams delivered the gift baskets to various children’s non-profit organizations.

Damian Elementary Principal, Jesus Barba says he decided to take on this initiative and team building activity because he feels that we all need to pay our blessings forward.

“I grew up around a lot of the things that these kids see and feel that now, as a school community, we need to help others,” Barba said. “I have been in situations where I have been without and definitely know what it is to go hungry and what it is to worry about how rent will be paid from one month to the next.”

The organizations JDE helped on Monday were the Ronald McDonald House, El Paso Children's Hospital, Dame La Mano Family Crisis Center, Rescue Mission of El Paso, the Reynold's Home, and Providence Children's Hospital.

Barba says that the main purpose for the event is to build community. The “Pay It Forward” activity will be extended to the students, who Barba calls “scholars,” and parents as they will be collecting donations for designated organizations throughout the school year. Stay tuned to JDE for the next opportunity to give back.