District 58 Families Make the Season Bright

My husband and I have always emphasized to our four children that it is better to give than to receive, especially during the holiday season. Our children do not exchange gifts amongst themselves; we make donations instead of putting an extra twelve presents under our tree.

 When they were younger, each child would pick out a toy and we would donate them to the fire station's annual toy drive. For the past few years, they have picked a child from our school's giving tree or a senior citizen from church to support during the holidays.

I am comforted to know that District 58 schools are reinforcing what we have been teaching our children through programs that help others. Here are five examples of our school communities spreading good will this holiday season.

1. Each child at El Sierra will be donate a gently used book and decorate a bookmark during their classroom holiday party. The bookmarks will be laminated by the PTA and given with the books to a local food pantry for distribution to children who visit the pantry with their parents.

2. Kingsley's student council organizes a giving tree each year to provide gifts to children in need within the Kingsley community. The student council also sold Gobble Grams—notes the children could send to their friends for Thanksgiving—and used the $150 raised to purchase food gift cards so families could purchase food for their holiday meals.

3. For the past two years, Whittier families have donated to the Marine's Toys for Tots Foundation. The collection of toys was started and is run by children at the school. 

And in lieu of holiday gifts, District 58 teachers are asking families to make donations instead.

4. Henry Puffer and Highland teachers ask that families donate items to make to make the holidays brighter for families in need throughout the community. Trees at the schools are adorned with mittens, scarves and socks which will be given to local charities, including the FISH Food Pantry. Toys and games are collected and donated to places like the fire department's toy drive.

5. Marla Gilbert, a teacher at Kingsley, has asked that donations be made to a memorial fund honoring her nephew, Sgt. Thomas Gilbert, who was killed during combat in Iraq in 2006. The memorial fund promotes youth appreciation and education for the outdoors.