Osseo District Students Collecting School Supplies for International Project

Students Connecting Through International Service has been collecting donations and delivering school supplies to students in Sasabe, Mexico for almost 20 years.

Six fifth-grade students are selected from four elementary schools to collect the donations, purchase them in Arizona and then deliver them to the U.S.-Mexico border. At the hand-off, students from Mexico and Osseo Area Schools meet for performances and a party.

“I just want to see the happy smiles on the kid’s faces when they get their school supplies,” said Abhi Bhunia, a student at Basswood Elementary. “I don’t think it’s fair that we have so much stuff and other people don’t.”

Student Aaron Xiong collects school supplies at Park Brook Elementary in last year’s Students Connecting Through International Service event.

This week, students have been collecting donations at Elm Creek, Edinbrook, Park Brook and Basswood elementary schools.

“It’s nice to see people care about others and their needs,” said Sophia Stenzel, a Basswood Elementary student.

Stenzel says the Sasabe students’ story really resonates with students.

“They can’t really go to school unless they have school supplies, unlike us so it much be pretty hard for them.”

The trip to the Mexican border takes place in April. Students will present what they learned to other students in May.

See also: Osseo Dist. Elementary Students Plan Trip to Meet Pen Pals

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