Kids help brighten holidays
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ST. IGNATIUS – More kids will have something to open on Christmas morning thanks to the efforts of about a dozen Mission Middle School students.
“It’s sad to think of kids without something to open on Christmas,” said Kayden Burke, 13. “It’s part of being a kid to be excited on Christmas morning, but some kids don’t have anything so we wanted to help.”
The students created a four-step project that starts with a trip to the woods to cut tree boughs. The students then make wreaths with the boughs. The money they raise from selling the wreaths is used to buy gifts for kids in need.
The students’ compassion got the program dubbed Dogs with Wings. One student described the wings as angel wings. For the past 11 years, the middle school students have put on their wings. But this year, the students didn’t get a chance to cut boughs.
“Because of the weather, they didn’t have time to cut the boughs,” said Mark Couture with Tribal Forestry. “We decided to help them out. We brought them a pick-up load of boughs.”
Allan Bunce with Tribal Forestry also helped cut and load the boughs. Couture and Bunce returned to the school to help the kids shop for the gifts.
“This is a nice project,” Bunce said. “We were glad to help out.”
Connie Plaissay used his experience as a florist to teach the kids how to make the wreaths.
“The forestry department provided the greens and the kids provided the labor,” he said.
The students got on a bus and went on a shopping trip with $500 they raised from selling wreaths. At the store, teachers put students into groups and handed them tags from the Share the Spirit tree, which is a tree containing the Christmas wish lists of kids in need. The names on the tags are changed to numbers, and the students never meet the kids on the tags.
“Years ago a student saw the Share the Spirit tree,” teacher Valerie Umphrey said. “She said ‘we have to do something to help’. We’ve been helping ever since.”
The challenge is that while shopping the students can’t go over $50 per tag. Teachers incorporated a little math lesson to ensure the kids don’t go over. Teacher Tana Couture helped her group figure out what they could buy.
“For one dollar, we can get two Play-Dohs,” she said. “We have five dollars left. How many can we get?”
The kids used paper, pencils and calculators to keep track of the items in their carts. Student Resource Officer Clay Shoemaker has gone along for the past three years to help kids shop and figure out the math.
“If they get right on the nose (with the budget), they can get a free lunch,” he said after helping a student compare prices on different toys.
The students were switching out items and adding items into their carts trying to stay within budget.
“We are looking for shoes and hair stuff for a girl,” said Pam Frost, 12. “It’s fun to be able to help the kids.”
Coree Cadieux, 14, was willing to venture into the girls’ clothing department for a good cause, although he raised a questioning eyebrow at some of the pink outfits.
“We are just helping people,” he said.
Donovan Couture, 13, said his group was looking for a car for a toddler. He said a sword might not be a good idea for a small child and moved on to the cars.
“It makes me happy to make kids happy,” he said.
Kayden has participated in the project for the past three years as a middle school student. She said she noticed a few changes over the years.
“The prices of things are going up a little bit,” she said.
At the cash register, Donovan watched his total start to climb. He smiled when it stopped right at $50.
“It was a pretty good adrenaline rush,” he said. “It was perfect. We found something for 68 cents to get it exactly right.”
Teacher Dorothy VonHoltum said students are able to continue the project each year by saving a portion of the money from the wreath sale for next year’s supplies. She said donations are always welcome.
Students involved in the project include Pam Frost, Josiah Matt, Eljin Schulz, Ryan Wickenberg, Isaiah Matt, Beau Peterson, Carlee Rossbach, Bronco Branson, Coree Cadieux, Donovan Couture, Megan Dillard, Antares Liberty, Mya McCrea, Michaela Richter, Kayden Burke and Jalyn Tellier.
