2nd-graders play Santa for troops in Iraq

The children also wrote personal letters to soldiers who will receive their gifts.

By HAROLD GWIN

VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — “I need a bigger stocking,” Randy Smith said as he stuffed a Rubik’s Cube, a Sudoku game, toiletries and more into a Christmas stocking.

The second-grader at West Elementary School was one of 24 pupils in Becky Butcher’s class taking part in a program to send Christmas stockings full of gifts to a group of American soldiers serving in Iraq.

Randy said he thought it important to remember the soldiers serving far from home over the holidays, “so they can get stuff because they don’t have a lot of stuff there.”

Butcher said she got her class involved as part of the literacy/language arts requirement in Ohio’s educational standards for second-graders.

The children learned a bit about being a soldier and serving in Iraq and had to write letters to those who will be receiving their gifts.

Their parents got involved by helping to purchase items for the stockings, and other teachers helped by buying additional items for the children to send, Butcher said.

The project originated with Diane Russell of Poland, whose son, Army Lt. Ted Russell III, has been serving in Iraq since April, and her friend, Shirley Freed-Matula. Russell approached the youth ministry in her church, Holy Family Church in Poland, while Freed-Matula approached the congregation of her church, Canfield United Methodist Church, for assistance in sending stockings to soldiers.

The plan is to send the items to approximately 100 people in Lt. Russell’s infantry outfit, the 1-64 Armored Unit in the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry.

Butcher, whose daughter, Katie, is dating Lt. Russell, said she learned of the project from Diane Russell and thought it would be a good program for her pupils.

In addition to working on their literacy and writing skills, it taught them that Christmas is about more than just receiving gifts, Butcher said, adding that the children got very excited about helping someone else.

The children, with help from Butcher and Carrie Boyer, West’s literacy coordinator, spent part of Monday afternoon stuffing the stockings, all of which are decorated with Christmas scenes or figures.

“I don’t think this is going to fit in here,” said Paige Mauch, as she tried to figure out how to carefully insert her letter into the stocking she was filling.

Her letter tells the recipient something about her family and what she enjoys doing and also thanks the soldier for serving the country. She wrote that she hopes the recipient enjoys what she has sent.

Evan Verone pulled the items back out of his stocking to show what he was sending, a deck of cards, deodorant, candy and more.

His letter said he hoped the solider getting the gift is fine and expressed his sadness for those who have died serving their country.

Diane Russell said the project has snowballed with many caring people getting involved. The plan is to ship the stockings by Dec. 10 to ensure that they reach her son’s unit by Christmas, she said.

gwin@vindy.com