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Worcester Prep students donate gifts for people in need

WPS fourth-graders (l-r) Lilly McClure, Lewes; Declan Parks, Salisbury, Md.; and Henry Hudson, Lewes are excited to donate their gifts to Diakonia this holiday season. SUBMITTED PHOTOS
January 24, 2026

Lower School students at Worcester Prep eagerly lined up Dec. 17 to visit Santa and share the spirit of giving by donating gifts to Diakonia.

Each Lower School student from prekindergarten through grade five arrived in the dining hall with one or more wrapped gifts and personally handed them to Santa to be distributed to Diakonia. Hundreds of gifts were donated to Diakonia’s homeless shelter in West Ocean City, Md., which provides emergency and transitional housing, food services and counseling for its guests.

This annual tradition reflects the WPS community’s commitment to service and compassion, while teaching students the importance of helping others during the holiday season. The school extends its gratitude to Lower School students and families, as well as the Diakonia staff and volunteers, for their hard work and continued support.

WPS teacher Hannah Purnell’s fourth-grade class gives Santa a playful “6-7” during the annual Diakonia toy drive at WPS. Shown are in back (l-r) Hannah Purnell; Henry Hudson, Lewes; Roshan Chapla, Salisbury, Md.; Camden Haley, Ocean City, Md.; Lily McClure, Lewes; Santa Claus; Declan Parks, Salisbury; Vincent Fasano, Ocean City; Charlie Davis, Berlin, Md.; Ryder Whitlock, Lewes; David Burke, Millsboro; and Nolan Anthony, Frankford. In front are Sloane Gudelsky, Ocean City; Blakely Absher, Berlin; Nuri Ramadan, Ocean City; Lilly Brittingham, Millsboro; and Avery Anderson, Milton. 
WPS teacher Camille Jenkins’ fifth-grade class poses with Santa after donating gifts for Diakonia. Shown are in back (l-r) Diakonia Community Coordinator Susan Blaney; Colton Vescovi, Rehoboth Beach; Ben Evangelista, Seaford; Head of Lower School Travis Bower; Luna Wierengo, Bishopville, Md.; Grace Hornung, Newark, Md.; Stella Correa, Ocean City, Md.; Santa Claus, Dev Pillai, Lewes; Grayson Arauz, Ocean View; Daxton Fones, Bishopville; Hristina Gjoni, Berlin, Md.; Ellie Bookwalter, Ocean City; and Camille Jenkins. In front are Isla Pippin, Berlin; Kamden White, Millsboro; Michael Bouzaglo, Berlin; Q Durrell, Rehoboth Beach; Georgia Duffie, Ocean City; and Zia Salem, Berlin.

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