This holiday season, Huntington Beach City School District (HBCSD) schools, students, and staff came together to spread kindness, generosity, and community spirit through a wide range of service efforts supporting families, children, seniors, and local organizations.

Across the District, schools led meaningful collection efforts that reflected both compassion and purpose. Eader and Smith Elementary collected blankets for CHOC Hospital, while Seacliff and Moffett Elementary Schools hosted toy drives. The District Office organized a holiday gift collection to support families in need, and our classified staff union, CSEA, led a toy drive to help brighten the season for local children.

At Moffett Elementary, Student Council proudly supported the Huntington Beach Fire Department’s annual Spark of Love Toy Drive, collecting toys to bring holiday joy to children throughout the community. At Seacliff Elementary, families and students participated in a Student Council Toy Drive for Miller Children’s Hospital, filling collection bins with toys and delivering smiles to young patients during the holiday season.

Students at Smith Elementary also demonstrated leadership and empathy through the Student Senate Community Needs Drive, collecting food items to support local students experiencing food insecurity. Donations were provided to Robyne’s Nest, helping create food boxes for students during school breaks and reinforcing the power of community support.

At Hawes Elementary and Sowers Middle School, students partnered with Edison High School to collect food for the Orange County Food Bank, showing how cross-school and District collaboration can extend the impact of service beyond campus boundaries and strengthen community connections.

Sowers students led multiple initiatives centered on service and sustainability. National Junior Honor Society students hosted a successful NJHS Thrift Store, raising nearly $500, with all purchased items donated to Waymakers of Huntington Beach to support local youth and families. The event reinforced lessons in leadership, sustainability, and civic responsibility.

Sowers students also continued a cherished tradition through the Sowers Music Program’s partnership with the McKenna Claire Foundation, fundraising during the foundation’s annual golf tournament to support children’s brain cancer research while benefiting the school’s music program. With more than 10 years of partnership, Sowers has proudly helped raise over $7 million for this important cause. In addition, NJHS students spread holiday cheer by writing heartfelt letters and creating handmade bookmarks for local senior citizens.

During the annual Catarina’s Club Pasta-thon, both Seacliff Elementary and Dwyer Middle School participated in the regional effort to fight food insecurity. Seacliff families donated an incredible 4,900 pounds of pasta and sauce, earning first place and helping provide for families in need. Dwyer Middle School proudly earned third place, contributing to a combined districtwide effort that helped provide more than 200,000 meals to families.

At Dwyer Middle School, students also gave back through their Journey for Good program by creating handmade ornaments for local senior citizens, an activity focused on connection, gratitude, and spreading joy beyond the classroom.

Together, these efforts reflect the compassion, leadership, and generosity of our students, families, staff, and community, making this season brighter for so many and showcasing HBCSD’s commitment to service, empathy, and Purpose in Action.