Classical plays Santa to give gifts to needy at Ingalls

LYNN – Bags of colorful wrapped presents filled the main office of Lynn Classical High School on Monday to the point where it was hard to walk from one end to another.?This is crazy. I?ve never seen it like this before,” Main Office secretary Coula Kesanlis said.Teachers, students and other school employees gathered the pile of gifts for this year?s Classical Christmas Fund, where the school picks an elementary school, finds out who the low-income students are and then works to buy presents for all of the children in need.Ingalls Elementary was the chosen school this year.?With this economy everyone is low-income,” ESL Department head Hana Walsh said.Once the students are chosen, a wish list is sent to the parents seeing what the child wants for the Christmas holiday.Many of the Christmas wishes are for simple necessities like clothing and blankets.?One of the lists said they wanted a bed. It just makes you wonder how people are surviving,” Kesanlis said.The whole school gets involved in sponsoring a child.?It is a school-wide effort. It?s such an amazing thing,” Walsh said. “Even teachers who have retired still get involved.”Teachers also get their families involved.?My son and daughter-in-law look forward to it every year,” Kasanlis said.This year they have received donations from local businesses in the area. Garelick Farms, Dunkin Donuts on Boston Street and Eastern Bank have all given generous checks to the cause.?I sent an e-mail to Dunkin Donuts and two days later I received a check,” Kesanlis recalls. “It just makes you go wow.”Senior Suanna Daley helped to wrap the copious amounts of gifts that overflowed in the office and has been participating in this event for as long as she can remember.?I like helping little kids that are in need,” Daley said. “It makes me feel good inside.”Junior Jeffrey Ruiz also joined in on the festivities.?I always think it is better to give then to receive,” Ruiz said.For Kasanlis all of the hard work is worth it when she sees the happy parents.?Seeing their faces is worth it. Some parents even cry knowing they can provide a good Christmas to their children now,” Kasanlis said.Sara Brown can be reached at [email protected].