Middle School Students Brighten Holidays With Shopping Spree

Skaneateles Central School District students helped deliver holiday cheer again this year with the 24th Annual Middle School Shopping Spree.

The 2023 edition featured 69 students using $20,000 at the Camillus Walmart to purchase gifts for more than a dozen local organizations. 

“It’s really a tradition at the middle school,” Student Council President Magnus Arroyo said. “We’ve been working on it for a month and a half. We’ve put in a lot of work to get together all of these people and make this come together, so we can finally get our end product of helping everyone.”

The organizations receiving gifts include Vera House, the Spafford Food Pantry, Peace Incorporated, East Hill Elementary & NICU, Hillside, Skaneateles Outreach, Make a Wish, Casey’s Place, Advocates Inc., Franklin Elementary, Van Dyne Elementary, Seneca Street Elementary, Minor Elementary, Dr. King Elementary, Upstate Pediatric Hospital and the Clinton Kindness Closet.

“It’s very nice knowing all of these gifts will be going to families who need them,” Student Council Vice President Ryan Musumeci  said. 

For Dawson Lynn, the secretary of the student council, the best part is when the gifts are delivered.

“I don’t get to see it, but I just like knowing that I’m making a difference in someone else’s Christmas,” Lynn said.