Story by Kirk Stevens, KOTA TV Photojournalist

RAPID CITY, S.D. -It's become an annual tradition by a collection of KOTA Territory churches, aimed at bringing the holidays to less fortunate children.

For the seventh year, members of the Methodist churches in Rapid City are participating in the "Mission Shoebox" gift campaign.

Photo: Volunteers fill Christmas shoeboxes at Knollwood Heights UMC for 334 children at American Horse School. Photo courtesy of Knollwood Heights.

The program provides more than 330 gift boxes to students of the American Horse School in Allen.

Each student will receive their own box containing things like everyday items, hats and gloves, crayons and of course, something fun to play with too.

Wednesday, student volunteers helped assemble the boxes of holiday cheer.
Event Coordinator Marie Tesch says the program brings the Christmas message not only to the students, but also the volunteers.

"This program is bringing the spirit of Christmas to the children on the reservations of South Dakota and of course, the last thing that we put in is a little story book that gives you the story of the birth of Christ”, said Tesch.

Student volunteer and Stevens High School senior Shelby Stotz has been helping for several years and has sees it as her way of giving back.

"I love helping out the less fortunate and it gives me great joy that we can bring glory to God and bring Christmas to all these kids that couldn't have it before”, said Stotz.

The gifts will be delivered to American Horse School in the next few weeks and will be handed out to the students as part of their holiday party December 17.