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Elementary-school students in Struthers promote spirit of giving
Struthers school collects items for charity
By EMMALEE C. TORISK
STRUTHERS
Madison Maynard is just halfway through the school year, but she’s pretty sure that Friday will top the list of her favorite days as a fourth-grader at Struthers Elementary School.
It wasn’t because of a holiday-themed performance by the Struthers High School Starlight Singers, or because of a PTA fundraiser that allowed students and staff to don their pajamas, or even because of a visit from Santa Claus, who arrived at the school that morning by firetruck.
The rainy weather wasn’t exactly ideal for sleigh travel, explained Maggie Kowach, the school’s principal.
Instead, 10-year-old Madison most enjoyed knowing that the donations of toys and food that students and staff alike had collected for the past few weeks soon would go to those in need. Two representatives from Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley accepted the donations, which amounted to more than 10 large barrels stuffed with goods, during Friday’s schoolwide assembly.
“Today was a really special day,” Madison said. “When kids get those toys, it’s going to be their Christmas miracle. That’s what Christmas miracles are to me.”
A few of Madison’s classmates — 10-year-old Isabelle Smith, 9-year-old Addelle Corps and 10-year-old Allen Willis — agreed, explaining how they donated tools and canned goods, basketballs and Barbie dolls, to the annual effort.
“Some people don’t even have shoes to wear in the snow,” Addelle said. “We just want people to have a better life.”
Kowach said the holiday assembly — a school tradition for at least the past 10 years — helps “bring in the Christmas spirit,” but also teaches students, ranging from kindergartners to fourth-graders, that giving to others, particularly those who are less fortunate than they are, is better than receiving.
“I have the best job in the whole world — other than Santa,” Kowach said. “To teach students that they can make a difference in someone else’s life — it’s not a job. It’s a gift.”
She added that there are families in Struthers who struggle financially, and some students may not realize that the classmate sitting next to them could be one of those in need. Luckily, Kowach said, members of the Struthers Elementary School community are among the most generous she’s ever worked with.
“Everybody deserves love, no matter what shoes they wear, what clothes they wear or what electronic toys they have,” Kowach said.
Echoing Kowach’s thoughts were Dylan Davis and Abbey Brodnan, both 9; Richie Gulu, 10; and Peyton Shorthouse, 9, who were selected from the school’s fourth-graders to present donations to Santa Claus and the Rescue Mission representatives.
“Some families don’t really have what others in this school have,” Dylan said.
The drive is “helping kids understand the true meaning of Christmas,” added Peyton. “It’s nice that there were a lot of kids who wanted to donate.”
Jim Vitullo, a driver for the Rescue Mission, said Struthers Elementary School’s annual collection is “huge” for the nonprofit, faith-based organization.
The Rescue Mission’s objective is to help others, and it can more easily do so with contributions from the community, Vitullo said. He wishes, however, that the spirit of giving would continue throughout the year, and not peak just around the holidays.
“We help thousands over the year,” Vitullo said. “But [these holiday drives], they fuel that. People get excited, and they remember us. It does help us all year long.”