Students at Kagel Elementary School received a festive surprise Dec. 11 when Santa, Mrs. Claus and even the Grinch stopped by to deliver presents and spread holiday cheer.
Santa and his squad of “elves” from the Milwaukee Fire Department visited each Kagel classroom, handing out books, toys, board games and winter gear. Community organizations in Milwaukee nominated the south side school for the surprise, said Julie Hightower, executive director of the Chicago-based nonprofit Daisie Foundation.
The Daisie Foundation, which has organized surprise holiday visits for schools in Milwaukee and other cities since 2021, planned the event with its Milwaukee partners over the past nine months. Hightower said the timing felt meaningful.
At Kagel Elementary, a dual language school, nearly all students are Hispanic or Latino, and about 86% of students are considered economically disadvantaged, according to state data.
“We realize that there are tough times right now – a lot tougher than in years past,” Hightower said.
As Hightower and other holiday helpers filed into classrooms with gifts in hand, students jumped out of their seats in surprise. When the kids learned the presents were for them, they cheered and eagerly unwrapped each box. Companies like Meijer, Campbell’s, Coca-Cola and Cousins Subs provided the gifts.
“For them, this means a lot,” said Principal Juan Mejia. “They were so excited to receive something. A lot of times this is the only gift many of them will get for Christmas because things might be going on in their lives.”
Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski said the fire department and other volunteers spent the weekend wrapping the presents before delivering them to the students.
“It’s such a bright spot in the holiday season for us,” Lipski said. “There are a lot of folks suffering.”
Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius was also part of the holiday team visiting Kagel students.
“A lot of our students don’t have a whole lot,” Cassellius said outside of the classroom. “When these kind of community givebacks come into our schools and embrace our children, bring love, bring cheer during the holiday season – when sometimes our families are really struggling – it just makes all the difference.”
Mejia said he hopes the visit at Kagel will inspire people to give back to other schools in the city.
“We have to continue to help the whole entire MPS,” he said. “There are more schools in need as well. That would be a blessing if we can reach as many schools as possible.”
Kayla Huynh covers K-12 education, teachers and solutions for the Journal Sentinel. Contact: khuynh@gannett.com. Follow her on X @_kaylahuynh.
Kayla’s reporting is supported by Herb Kohl Philanthropies and reader contributions to the Journal Sentinel Community-Funded Journalism Project. Journal Sentinel editors maintain full editorial control over all content. To support this work, visit jsonline.com/support. Checks can be addressed to Local Media Foundation (memo: “JS Community Journalism”) and mailed to P.O. Box 85015, Chicago, IL 60689.
The JS Community-Funded Journalism Project is administered by Local Media Foundation, tax ID #36-4427750, a Section 501(c)(3) charitable trust affiliated with Local Media Association.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Community groups surprise Kagel Elementary students with holiday gifts
Reporting by Kayla Huynh, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
