Pride of America Crew Shares Holiday Cheer Across The Sea

Pride of America crew members recently spread holiday cheer across the seas by donating more than 1,000 pounds of shoes, food, clothes, school supplies, and toys to impoverished children at an elementary school in the southern Philippines.

Crew members Georgelette Jimenez and Justin Legendre from the Philippines who regularly sent money to the children of Teodoro Dator Elementary School in Laguna, Philippines wanted to expand their generosity this holiday season and enlisted the support of their shipboard colleagues. A very kind donation came from the ship’s port and cruise consultant, Linda Scott, who not only gave money, but her time when she realized what an impact the entire crew could make on the school. Scott, along with Kyle Craig, the ship’s crew activities coordinator, moved into action and started to pull together a donation effort. A 24-hour donation box was set up in the crew mess and was filled every two days for the entire month of October. The outpouring of generosity was incredible and by early November, the crew from Pride of America had enough donations to fill an entire moving van.

“In the U.S. we tend to worry about how healthy our school lunches are or if the books are new enough, but in this area of the Philippines they worry about children having enough to eat, clothes on their backs or shoes on their feet,” said Georgelette Jimenez, Pride of America’s officer utility. “These donations were just one way we could assure these children had a special holiday.”

The shipment is expected to arrive at the elementary school just in time for the holidays.