Saint John’s Prep Middle School Students Raise $2,045  for Anna Marie’s Alliance

Saint John’s Prep middle school students are supporting families in need this Christmas by raising over $2,045 for Anna Marie’s Alliance. The students took part in a “white elephant” auction to raise the funds. This fun tradition has been a part of the Prep School middle school holiday experience for over 20 years!

Each 7^th and 8^th grade student donated a festive, wrapped gift that was used for bidding. The auction items were all mystery items. Each gift was labelled with a clue, but all students could see was a wrapped gift or gift bag! Students opened the gifts to find everything from Christmas candy and holiday décor to silly items like beauty products, office supplies, and silly toys.

Middle school teacher Cameron Swanson served as the auctioneer while middle school teachers Jeff Kirchoff, Ashleigh Severson, and Robert Ellenbecker served as cashiers and gift distributors.

The proceeds are being used to fill the wish lists of a family at Anna Marie’s Alliance. Mr. Swanson took a crew of students shopping with the family members’ wish lists. Gifts on the Anna Marie’s wish list range from practical clothing and toiletries to fun toys, gift cards and electronics.

Anna Marie’s Alliance provides safety for women and children in abusive situations in the nine-county region of Stearns, Benton, Sherburne, Wright, Mille Lacs, Isanti, Kanabec, Chisago and Pine Counties. For more information about Anna Marie’s Alliance go to www.annamaries.org.

Founded in 1857, Saint John’s Prep is a Catholic/Benedictine, co-ed, private day and boarding school, providing students of all faiths in grades 6-12, with a college-preparatory curriculum. For more information, visit www.sjprep.net or call 320-363-3315.