About 500 Jordan School District secondary students fulfilled their wishes during the holiday season, thanks to generous community members and businesses participating in “Christmas for Kids.”

“Our hope is to provide Christmas for these students with both their needs and wants,” said Jordan Education Foundation Executive Director Mike Haynes. “It’s heartwarming to have many of our volunteers return year after year to shop with the students and while we appreciate the generosity of many businesses, we had several community members give of their own to help these deserving students.”

Haynes said many of the students, who were selected by school counselors and administrators, might otherwise go without during the holiday season. 

Christmas for Kids donations covered $175 of each student’s purchases, with any additional costs paid by the 500 volunteers who accompanied them during the Dec. 6 shopping event. About 30 other volunteers organized the event, held at Walmart on South Jordan Parkway, where Santa Claus came to support the students.

Bingham High Principal Rodney Shaw, who supported the 12th annual event, was touched by students’ choices.

“Many kids weren’t filling the carts with toys or items for themselves, but they’re shopping for family members; it’s heartwarming to see,” he said.

Students also received weekend food bags from Cyprus Credit Union and a box of food, soap and laundry detergent from the Gardner Group. 

Additional food and monetary donations were provided by Wex, Holiday, Lone Peak Hospital, BNI, Enbridge, Galloway, Watkins Charitable Foundation, Bowcutt’s Flooring America, Walmart, Jordan Valley Dental and the Larry H. Miller Group.