The Mahtomedi High School Student Leadership Council is responsible for wrapping and packing the gifts. Photos: Alice Seuffert, Mahtomedi Public Schools
Learn more about Mahtomedi’s district-wide holiday service project.
The act of giving and receiving gifts is a beloved aspect of this season for many families. Wrapped with love and opened with glee—presents are a way to share the holiday magic among family and friends.
At Mahtomedi Public Schools (MPS), the district-wide Zephyr Service Project ensures all area families can experience this joy. The entire school community—from elementary and middle school students to high schoolers and staff—participates in an effort that has grown to serve nearly 150 students each year. “Anyone can need support at any time … This program shows that our school community really rallies around each other when people need support,” says Alice Seuffert, director of communications at MPS. “There’s no questions asked. You’re a part of our community, and [if] you need help right now, we’ll be there for you.”
This holiday season’s efforts run from November 2 to December 4 and follow a record year of giving in 2025, which saw the school community come together to donate 400 books, nearly 400 toys, $2,400 in gift cards for teens, and $8,500 for clothing and essentials.
Every school in the district has a specific mission. Early childhood, preschool and Wildwood Elementary School students and staff are responsible for collecting new children’s and young adult books. O.H. Anderson Elementary School students and staff gather new toys and puzzles. Mahtomedi Middle School students and staff collect financial donations from the school community for the purchase of specialized gifts and essentials. Mahtomedi High School (MHS), Passages Transition Program students and staff, and the Mahtomedi Area Educational Foundation collect gift cards for young adults. Then, district staff collect gift wrap and gift bags.
Collection boxes for the hat and mitten drive are placed at local businesses, including The Wild Bean.
“For the families who are interested in receiving support, it’s just a Google Form, and everything is kept confidential,” Seuffert says. Families are asked to share information about their children, including specifics about what they love to do and toys on their wishlist. “It allows us to really [get] some personalized gifts for each of those families,” she says.
With the cash donations, middle school students head to Target to shop for each family’s specific needs. Then, the MHS Student Leadership Council gathers to wrap all of the gifts. “It’s a celebration,” Seuffert says. “They are so thoughtful in how they’re putting these gift packages together.”
Each family is assigned a date and time to confidentially pick up their package. Recent event updates include a greater focus on gift cards for teens and the addition of a winter hat and mitten drive. One mother shares about her experience: “An unexpected job loss made the holidays very uncertain, and this [made] Christmas morning perfect. I appreciate so much the attention to detail with the gift selections. I would have picked every one of them out myself.”
The Zephyr Service Project has become as beloved by students as it is by the families who benefit from it—demonstrating the power of generosity to bring people together. “That’s kind of [the] beauty of this project—there’s so many student hands and staff hands involved in this to support others,” Seuffert says.
Get Involved
The community is invited to participate in the Zephyr Service Project. Books, children’s toys, fiscal donations and gift cards for teenagers can be dropped off at the Mahtomedi Public Schools District Office, and winter hats and mittens can be placed in collection boxes at select area businesses.
