Smiles as bright as Christmas lights, and laughter that invigorated
like Christmas carols—these filled the grounds of the Looc Elementary School in
Nasugbu, Batangas as The SM Store gave the students there an early Christmas
present that is #SoMagical. Staying true to its commitment of bringing joy to
communities where it is present, SM recently turned over its 100th school
building donation, and The SM Store distributed toys to children.
It was only October 16, but it felt like Christmas
morning. The students and teachers of Looc Elementary School could not contain
their excitement as they took part in a morning of fun and games, a day before
the official unveiling of the two-story, four-classroom new school building.
Christmas came early
Situated in front of the school’s sprawling grounds that
offer the students an unobstructed view of nearby mountains is a covered court.
On that day, employee volunteers from The SM Store Batangas, The SM Store Lipa
and Savemore Nasugbu worked like Santa’s helpers to transform it into a festive
spot, complete with balloons and party tables and chairs.
Students from Kinder to Grade 2 eagerly lined
up, thrilled to witness a lively program and party with their friends and their
newfound ates and kuyas. They were treated to fun performances from a magician,
clowns, a balloon-twisting artist and a bubble artist. They also had their
faces painted withflowers, butterflies, and superheroes. At the end of the
program, they were given cuddly plush toys from The SM Store’s Toy Department,
clothes from its Children’s Wear section and grocery items from Savemore.
Christmas came early for these kids. It was a new and unforgettable experience
for the children of Looc, whose families are engaged in farming or are working
at nearby resorts.
Mikko, one of the students of Looc Elementary School,
shared how he loved the gift and enjoyed the festivities, which was a rare
treat in their school.
“Masaya po ako sa natanggap ko na regalo. Masaya at maganda
din ang program kanina, nagpafacepaint pa nga po ako. Minsan lang po kasi may
ganito dito sa amin. (I am happy with the gift that I received. I really
enjoyed the program. I even had my face painted. It’s not often that we get to
enjoy celebrations like this),” Mikko said.
Dr. Luciana Tulagan, Principal of Looc Elementary, said
that this event didn’t just bring joy to the kids but also taught them the
value of sharing.
“Malaki pong kaligayahan ang naibigay ng SM dito sa mga
mag-aaral ng Looc Elementary School. Dahil sa Share A Toy ng The SM Store,
maimumulat namin sa mga bata na dapat hindi lang tuwing Pasko ang pagbibigayan,
kungdi lagi. (The SM Store brought great happiness to the students of Looc
Elementary School. Because of Share a Toy, we can educate the children that
sharing happens not only during Christmas, but there are everyday opportunities
to do it.)
#SoMagical Christmas
Truly, the spirit of Christmas is in sharing. This
Holiday season, The SM Store continues to nurture just that through its Share A
Toy campaign.
“SM values creating a positive impact in the communities
where we are present. We are really grateful that SM gave us the opportunity to
be a part of this meaningful event and the chance to share the spirit of
Christmas through the gift of toys with the kids of Looc Elementary School.
This is a memorable experience that we’ll treasure,” said Shelamie Marasigan,
Assistant Branch Manager of The SM Store Lipa.
The SM Store is encouraging its generous shoppers to give
back and make a kid’s Christmas #SoMagical by donating a new or pre-loved toy
at the Share A Toy booth in all The SM Store branches nationwide. For every toy
donated, the shopper will get a P50 discount voucher. The campaign runs from
November 15, 2019 until December 31, 2019, with toys to be donated to
beneficiaries of the SM Foundation.
These toy donations are a simple but meaningful gift for
kids. More than just play items, toys are beneficial to a child’s development
according to studies. Toys can help increase their learning retention,
stimulate their creativity and imagination, enhance their senses, spur their
emotional and social development, and help in developing their hand-eye
coordination and fine motor skills.
Share A Toy is just one of the ways The SM Store inspires
a culture of sharing and purposeful giving among its shoppers. Early this year,
it conducted its Share Shoes program and Donate A Book campaign. Since its
launch in 2015, The SM Share Movement has already collected more than 1.3
million items which include shoes, school supplies, clothes, toys, disaster
kits and hygiene kits, which have been distributed across different parts of
the country.
For more updates about the Share Movement and ways you
could donate, visit www.thesmstore.com and follow its social media pages
@thesmstore on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
No comments:
Post a Comment