At Girard school, a lesson in giving

The program has been in effect for six years.

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

GIRARD — Pupils and faculty in the school district here took some time out this week to offer more than an education to some pupils and their families.

More than 100 Girard school pupils and their families sat in a small row of bleachers in the Girard Intermediate School gymnasium Wednesday afternoon. Most parents talked among themselves while their children played with friends and kept an eye on Santa, who sat a short distance away across the gym.

Across the hall from the gathered families was a room filled with wrapped gifts and presents for those waiting in the gym. Items too big to be wrapped, such as bicycles, stood neatly in various parts of the room.

Shortly before 4 p.m., Santa started calling out names, and children stepped forward to take a picture with the jolly man in red and claim whatever surprise awaited them in that room across the hall.

The gift giveaway was part of the “Gift of a Life Program,” organized by the Teen Institute at Girard High School. The teen group has been conducting the giveaway to elementary pupils and their families for six years.

Nick Cochran, student assistance coordinator at the high school, said the students hold various community service projects throughout the year and spend any money earned on gifts for the Gift of a Life Program. Any additional funds come from the students’ pockets and community members.

Cochran said the project initially started as a way for students to get 60 hours of needed community service work each year, but it has turned into much more.

“We were just thinking of different ideas and with 160 kids in Teen Institute and another 60 kids in the Breakfast Club, each needing 60 hours of community service, we just decided to do this,” he said. “The first year 30 kids participated and as we sat there watching kids open the gifts at least half of them started crying so we decided that this is something we had to keep doing.”

This year 90 teens, about 20 teachers and another 20 members from the community went out and bought gifts for the program, plus the teens made use of money earned by the Teen Institute group.

The group purchased gifts for more than 100 younger children and bought gifts and food for an additional two families.

Cochran said the names of the families selected to participate in the event are taken from a list of pupils who receive free lunch in the district or who are known to have lost a parent or have a parent serving in the military overseas.

Donald Fellows, whose son participated in the event, said the efforts by the students are appreciated by his entire family.

“This is a very good thing,” he said. “The kids had a lot of fun and are very excited. It also helps out a lot.”

Cochran said the program also helps the teen students who work to raise the funds appreciate how fortunate they are.

jgoodwin@vindy.com