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Spirit Of Giving Is Alive And Well

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By MEGAN HUSSEY

Tribune correspondent

Published: December 20, 2008

Prekindergarten students at Kids' Stuff preschool and private kindergarten raised nearly $1,000 for this year's Coin Harvest charity shopping trip. And they knew exactly where that money was going.

"We're shopping for toys," said Cameron Hall, 4.

"Who for?" asked Kathy Peckett, Kids' Stuff director.

"Needy children," said 4-year-old Kaylee Coleman. "They don't have anything."

On Dec. 11 and 12, four Kids' Stuff classes convened with parent volunteers, teachers, and teachers' aides at the SuperTarget on County Line Road in Land O' Lakes, to spend the money they had earned through the completion of household chores.

They broke into small groups to shop for Christmas gifts for children from 18 months to 18 years old, affiliated with Pasco Pediatrics.

"If the other people at this store only knew how many boys and girls we're going to make happy with these gifts," teacher Isabel Trentman told the students she escorted on the Coin Harvest shopping trip.

Trentman and teacher's aide Jenna Strand smiled as Isabella Roy, Dylan Miller and Alina McCoy picked out everything from wallets and body wash to journals and gloves for the teens of Pasco Pediatrics.

Other children shopped for the agency's younger clients, buying Barbie, Pokemon and Transformer items - and a Busy Ball Choo Choo.

Before their shopping trip, all of the children learned in class about sorting and counting coins and shopping for bargains.

During the trip, they were encouraged to "look with their eyes" instead of their hands, and to be quiet and respectful of others - especially, Trentman told them, because Santa's elves might be watching.

"This project makes them feel they're doing something important," Trentman said.

Kaylee Coleman agreed.

"The boys and girls will love these toys," she said.

Also playing Santa this year were the ladies of the Summertree Ladies Golf League in New Port Richey, which delivered about 50 gifts to the prekindergarten Head Start students at Hudson Elementary School.

"We've been doing this for about eight years, and it's gotten bigger every year," said Barbara Badali, chairwoman of the league's Christmas committee. "Every year we get all the gifts for all the precious children."

On Dec. 5, the women delivered their gifts to Karen Ross' class at Hudson Elementary, with a little help from Saint Nick.

Santa Claus greeted the children that day with a hearty "Ho! Ho! Ho!" They, in turn, greeted him with cries of "Santa!" and "Where are your reindeer?"

The students then unwrapped their gifts.

"It's beautiful!" said Kyra Lohr, 4, after unwrapping her new pink shirt.

In an event drawing, Kyra's classmate Joseph Geidel won a Radio Flyer wagon donated by Summertree residents Angelo and Betty Graziani.

"We're more excited than the kids," Norma Sartell said of the Summertree volunteers. "These are all toddlers who still believe in Santa."

"This is so much fun," Norma Wing said.

Many of the Summertree volunteers attached a great deal of sentimental value to the gift-giving experience.

"My youngest grandchild is 4," said Frannie Brandt, "and that's about the age of these kids."

"I just like helping others, especially children," Joan Keller said.

Their efforts were greatly appreciated by the staff and students of Hudson Elementary School.

"This is amazing," said Sharon Sacco, vice principal of the school. "We have lots of volunteers who make a difference every day, and this is an added bonus for kids who are not as fortunate.

"Even in these hard times, people still put other people first. It reminds us of why we're here."

HOLIDAY HELPERS

Eighteen students ages 4 and 5 - prekindergarten pupils at Kids' Stuff preschool and private kindergarten in Land O'Lakes - saved nearly $1,000 for this year's Kids' Stuff Pre-K Coin Harvest, an effort that supplied gifts for 75 children served by Pasco Pediatrics this Christmas season.

After earning and saving their money during the month of November, the students visited SuperTarget on County Line Road in Land O' Lakes, for a shopping trip Dec. 11 and 12.
SuperTarget managers helped out by providing the shoppers with a $110 gift card; representing 10 percent of what the students earned.

The Summertree Ladies Golf League, based in the Summertree neighborhood in New Port Richey, played Santa for 18 Head Start prekindergarten students at Hudson Elementary School. The ladies supplied about 50 gifts to the children in Karen Ross' class, which consists of 4- and 5-year-old students. They also brought bags of fresh fruit and Christmas treats.

According to Hudson Elementary School parent involvement assistant Anna Stump, the school's ABC committee also helps less fortunate Hudson Elementary families with food baskets and gift certificates during the holidays.

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