Students get in spirit of sharing
A tall, thin woman, about 30 years old, tentatively approached the check-in table at the Season of Sharing gift distribution at the Spokane Valley United Methodist Church gym Tuesday.
The woman offered her name in broken English, but with Pavel Dukin’s help she found out where to go and how to select gifts for her children.
“I speak Russian. That’s all I speak at home,” said Dukin, a ninth-grader at West Valley High School who acted as an interpreter.
Dukin was one of 70 student volunteers from West Valley, Freeman and Central Valley school districts at the Spokane Valley Community Center’s 12th annual Season of Sharing gift-giving program.
Each year the program provides gifts to low-income children living in Spokane Valley. Individuals, schools, businesses and churches provide the gifts, stocking stuffers, wrapping paper and candy.
Kamiel Youseph, an English teacher at West Valley, said the students were there as part of a community service project.
“It’s a time for reflection and character building as students offer help to people in Millwood and the Spokane Valley,” said Youseph. “We have a lot of students receiving free and reduced lunches. It could be their family here. It’s great seeing 14- and 15-year-old kids step up and help. They’re having a lot of fun, joking with the people. They’re doing something positive.”
This is Spokane Valley Community Center Director Sharon Hengy’s second year in charge of the Season of Sharing program. “Last year we helped out 1,800 children. This year parents registered 1,950 children,” Hengy said.
More than 200 volunteers bring the program together. “This year we have more student volunteers. The kids are great,” said Hengy. “They’re very enthusiastic.”
Twenty students from Greenacres Middle School’s Spirit Service Club served as escorts, gift wrappers and baby sitters while parents selected gifts for their children.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to give back to the community and help others,” said club adviser Eva Waddell, a language arts teacher. “The kids are so excited to help out.”
The East Valley School District also participated by collecting toys in its “warm and fuzzy” drive, said Hengy.
This year Freeman students in grades K-12 held “Freeman’s 15 Days of Giving” holiday drive, their first districtwide community service campaign. They donated more than 200 new toys or gifts; 1,000 pounds of food including 40 frozen turkeys; and a flood of clothing for the community center’s clothing bank.
Chris Beaulaurier, 13, was one of several students in Freeman Middle School’s leadership class working at the gift distribution.
“I didn’t expect to see so many people and so much stuff,” said Beaulaurier. “There’s hundreds and hundreds of toys for everyone in every age group. There’s some awesome presents. It’s great to see how many people help this organization.”
Alexis Roberts, a Freeman seventh-grader, helped distribute stocking stuffers. “Working here makes you feel real lucky and grateful. Some people aren’t always so lucky,” said Roberts.