Menlo-Atherton High School provides students many school-wide opportunities to participate in community service projects. These projects allow students to look beyond themselves and take an active role in positively shaping our community. They also help to develop core values like empathy and respect. They also support the M-A Mission Statement to foster socially responsible students.
The annual M-A Holiday Gift Drive helps to brighten the holidays of families in need within the M-A community. Each year we fulfill the holiday wish lists of around 80 families. We invite all members of the community to participate in our gift giving program.
We are looking for families and groups to sponsor or adopt a family to help make their wishes come true. By participating in the Holiday Gift Drive, your family, office, church, book club, sports team, scout troop, professional organization, church, and or social group can directly give to a family within our own M-A community.
As a donor, you will receive a wish list for an M-A family. The wish lists include names, ages, sizes, favorite colors and toy requests to make your shopping fun and easy. Our goal is to provide $30 gifts to family members age 18 and under and a gift card for the family. Gifts should include a toy for small children. Wrapped gifts can be directly delivered to Menlo-Atherton High School on December 18th. If you have further questions you can contact our hard working elves at magiftdrive@seq.org.
To become a gift donor, sign up here. You will receive your family's wish-list at the beginning of December. You can also give a monetary donation of any amount that will go directly to buying gifts. Monetary donations can be dropped off at the M-A main office. Make checks payable to Holiday Gift Drive
Here are a few hints to help with shopping. Gifts should be around $30 per person for family members age 18 years and younger. Please, also include a $25 - $50 gift card for the family. These values are guidelines. Please use your own discretion. Please provide a toy for all children. Popular choices are Barbies, doll sets, Dora, princesses, art supplies, trucks, star wars, legos, and sports balls and equipment. Favorite colors can be used for clothing requests. Warm pajamas and sweatshirts are always great ideas. Please include gift receipts.
If you are completely stuck for what to get teenagers on your lists, gift cards are great – just please wrap them like a present.
For many of our families, these will be the only gifts that they will receive. This year we are focusing on presents for students 18 and younger. We have provided you with the number of adults in the household. If you choose, you can increase the value of the family gift card based on the family size. If you wish, you can provide a family gift like blankets, kitchen wares, family games, candy or other holiday treats. Another choice would be to buy the adults a warm hat or scarf. Buying for the adults in the family is completely optional and left to your discretion.
Gifts should be wrapped and labeled for each person. All the gifts for one family should be enclosed in one or two large closable bags. Attach the family wish list to the outside of the large bag. Be sure to include gift receipts for easy returns.
Wrapped gifts can be directly delivered to
Shopping hints and drop-off information will be sent to the donors with the link to the family wish list around the first of December. Thank you for your support. If you have any questions, please email us at magiftdrive@seq.org
"Never doubt that a small dedicated group of people can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead
Each Halloween families are invited to celebrate the season at M-A's very own annual Trick-Or-Treat Street. Trick-Or-Treat Street offers fun games, activities, contests, parades, and of course children may collect candy by trick-or-treating from classroom to classroom. Everyone is welcome to trick-or-treat in the safe and welcoming "neighborhood" of Menlo-Atherton High School.