Kids work to buy toys for others

Helping other children

Some background: This year, a team of four prekindergarten classes at Kids' Stuff Preschool raised more than $1,300 to buy toys for children served by the Pasco Pediatric Foundation as part of the Coin Harvest/Kids' Stuff Pre-K Cares for Kids project.

Community contributions: According to information provided by Kids' Stuff, "The purpose for this activity is two-fold: First, to provide presents for children who may not otherwise receive any. Second is to teach our young children to work for their money and then use that money to benefit someone other than themselves. Picking out a toy they'd love to have and then giving it away builds character and empathy in our youngest citizens. Children earn this money by doing chores such as folding laundry, setting the table, feeding a pet, getting dressed by themselves and other chores around the home," Kids' Stuff officials said.

A little history: The Pre-K team has been buying Christmas toys for needy families in Pasco County since December 2002. The idea was introduced to the school by teacher Isabel Trentman, who joins teachers Kim Copher, Tory Simms and Judy De Friese in bringing these classes to Kmart each year to shop for the program.

Over the years, gifts have been donated to Christian Social Services, Sunrise Shelter of Pasco County for abused women and children, and most recently the Pasco Pediatric Foundation.

Get involved: To learn more about the Pasco Pediatric Foundation, visit www.pascokids.org/.

Students at Kids' Stuff Preschool in Land O' Lakes have been doing extra chores at home and earning spare change for a special school project - with a very definite purpose in mind.

"We're shopping for people who don't have toys," said Katie Madley, 5.

Since December 2002, the Coin Harvest/Kids' Stuff Pre-K Cares for Kids project has made it possible for children served by agencies such as Christian Social Services and Sunrise of Pasco to have a merrier Christmas.

Students in four Kids' Stuff prekindergarten classes earn their coins at home by doing extra chores, then spend them during a supervised Kids' Stuff shopping trip at Kmart in Land O' Lakes.

This year's program recipient is the Pasco Pediatric Foundation, a nonprofit charity founded in 1995. According to the organization's website, "Our mission is to raise and distribute funds to children and young adults who need assistance with medical, emotional, physical, and educational needs not otherwise met by existing federal, state, and local services and organizations in Pasco County."

"We're going to buy toys for children who need them," said Skky Lopez, 4.

Before the shopping trip, which took place Dec. 9 and 10, the children and their shopping trip supervisors - Kids' Stuff teachers, administrators and parent volunteers - were given a predetermined amount to spend and the ages and genders of the children for whom they were shopping.

"That way they know exactly who they're shopping for," said Cathy Peckett, director of Kids' Stuff Preschool.

The students picked up everything from baby toys to Tonka trucks, fashion dolls, Nerf balls, Fisher Price chatter telephones, Just Kidz fashion dolls, Christmas socks, Tinkerbell slippers, doodle boards and pony play sets.

"They're buying toys for kids, babies to age 9," Peckett said. "Kids can relate more to other young kids."

As they shop, the students are encouraged to look for bargains and keep track of how much money they're spending.

"Let's look for things that are on sale," Jackie Genovese, assistant director of Kids' Stuff, told Skky. "Let's see how many things we can buy."

The kids kept careful track of their purchases.

"I think we have too many stuff," said Viviana Estrada, 5.

The students later were treated to popcorn and soft drinks in the Kmart cafe and also received treat bags from the store. In the meantime, their toys were divided into labeled bags that indicated the age and gender of their intended recipients.

According to parent volunteer Michelle Parisi, the students learn an even deeper lesson from their participation in the project.

"Little kids tend to be self-centered, and this teaches them to think of others," said Parisi, whose children, Julianna and Jiannina, attend Kids' Stuff.

Skky would probably agree. Following her shopping expedition, she looked up at Genovese and asked, "Are the kids going to like what I bought?"

"I think they will," Genovese replied with a smile.