Youth group participates in Gift of the Drummer

Photo courtesy of Shelly Valdez

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When all the wrapping was complete, the youth could finally have their Christmas party and celebrate the good work they had done for many. 

SANDY — Shelly and John Valdez, youth ministers at Blessed Sacrament Parish, started the Gift of the Drummer Program in 1999. This year their group of 55 youth from 14 different schools, helped 12 families from throughout the valley including six seniors from the Sarah Daft Home in Salt Lake City, have a Christmas they would not have been able to afford.

"This service project takes about six weeks to prepare," said Shelly. "We started Nov. 18, and our last delivery this season was Dec. 23. The youth begin with pulpit talks at Mass to encourage everyone in the parish to participate. We put up our cardboard tree, and we gather as a group to label the tags for the tree with items families or individuals would like.

"We also put smaller items on the cards so those who cannot afford to buy very much can also participate," said Shelly. "The families we provide Christmas for come from all over the valley. Some are from within our parish and some come from St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish, Midvale, because that is the parish from which Blessed Sacrament started. We have people call us for help from Magna, Salt Lake City, and Murray. We do not discriminate in that they do not have to be Catholic. People call because they know Catholic churches help those in need at Christmas.

Shelly said Gift of the Drummer is really a big deal for the teens in the youth group. If they only helped the people who are Catholic, the youth would feel that is not right.

"They feel if we are just helping our own kind, then we are not doing what Jesus taught us to do," said Shelly. "They are so service oriented. They think it is our obligation to help everyone and there is no qualm on their part. Most of our ideas come from the kids as far as what they want to do for service. We just help them make their ideas come to fruition. The kids do the work."

Shelly said everything is kept anonymous. They help a lot of single mothers with children, and this year they helped two single fathers. It was difficult when they gave the gifts to the single fathers because they started to cry. They were overwhelmed.

"We give gifts to the parents as well because what we don’t realize is the impact it has on children when they have gifts and see their parents without any," said Shelly. "It is really hard on them. They don’t understand why Santa does not bring a gift to their parents. People need to give, so this is such a beautiful process and project."