Many charitable gifts are out of sight, out of mind once they reach the mailbox or are placed in some bin.

But students at Green Bay Southwest HighSchool had the rare opportunity Monday to see the response when 100 children got clothes, toys and other items the Southwest students collected last fall.

Southwest alumnus Kristen Grave delivered the gifts and had returned with photos, video and thanks from the children of Casa Hogar, an orphanage in Oaxaca, Mexico.

“I felt so happy,” said Lauralynn Renn, 16, a sophomore.  She saw pictures of children playing with one of the toys her group purchased.  “I was so excited for them, that they could have such a good time.”

Graves, who’s part of an organization called Simply Smiles, showed the photos and video at the beginning of every class period Monday, letting all the students see the result of their work.

“We want you to see the impact you all had on the lives of these children,” said Southwest junior Neena Amarnani, who helped Graves organize the gift drive.

The gifts were distributed on three Kings Day, Jan. 6.  The holiday, also known as the Epiphany, is the traditional gift giving day in Mexico, instead of Christmas Day.

Each child got two new outfits, plus four other items including toys and toiletries.  Graves said 14 of the children had never received a present of any kind.

“You had to explain, ‘This is a gift.  It’s yours. It’s for you to have,’ ” she said.

The gifts were just one part of a special party day for the children.  They also got to eat at McDonald’s, play on large inflatable toys and break pinatas.

“It was just an incredible day for them,” Graves said.  “It was a huge thing and they will never, ever forget.”

Her video is filled with images of shy smiles, cheesy grins and supremely happy children.  Some handled their gifts as if they were fragile;  others tore into them with abandon.

Emily Van Cuyk, 16, a sophomore, said watching the children’s responses reminded her how much she takes for granted.

“It was really touching, that movie,” she said.  “I was smiling the whole way through.”