A lesson in giving
Students making holidays special for other kids
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 09/12/2017 (2870 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The Christmas spirit can be such a powerful force, it can sometimes move mountains — Miracle on Mountain, that is.
And when children get into the spirit, they can take it to a whole new level.
Take the Grade 7 math and science students in teacher Kathy Stardom’s classroom at Henry G. Izatt Middle School.
As Stardom says, it all started when her mother-in-law clipped out the first column of the Free Press’s Miracle on Mountain campaign — in which we asked students, classrooms and schools to bring donations of new, unwrapped toys to put under the Christmas tree in our lobby.
We promised not only would the toys go to help those who need it most through our campaign to assist the Christmas Cheer Board, but we’d also give students a pat on the back by giving them a bit of publicity.
Stardom said her husband’s school was already busy doing good work for another cause, so she decided to ask her classroom if they wanted to join the campaign.
“They said yes, they wanted to be part of it,” Stardom said. “I also emailed other teachers, and two other Grade 6 teachers said they would be interested. The classes have been making posters and giving presentations in other classrooms… There are a lot of students who have jumped in with both feet.
“They want to donate even more.”
Abby MacInnes and Nazar Viznytsya are just two of the students in Stardom’s classroom working hard at getting presents to donate.
“I wanted to do it immediately,” said Abby, 12. “I love helping people. I like putting a smile on kids’ faces. We have everything and they have nothing.”
Abby said she has already donated some stocking stuffers, but she wants to bring in a bracelet-making kit for a child around 10 years of age and a nail-polishing kit for a girl her age.
“My parents told me this is a good opportunity to help other people,” she said.
Nazar said he plans to go to a store to take a look at the toy shelves.
“I’m going to see what I like, because that is what they’ll like,” he said. “I’ll probably look for boys’ games and cards… My parents said I am doing a good job to help people out not as fortunate as I am.”
Stardom agrees the students are having fun, but they are also learning an important lesson.
“At this time of year, everybody is all excited,” she said. “To have the students want to give to other children who don’t have as much as they do is a lesson.”
And these students are great teachers, too. They are teaching us simply by purchasing a toy that we, too, can help someone out there who may receive little, if anything at all, during this festive time.
It’s a lesson we all can learn.
It’s up to you, now: the Free Press building doors are open daily weekdays at 8:30 a.m. Please help.
kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press’s city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin.
Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
How you can help
Send cheques to: Miracle on Mountain, c/o 1355 Mountain Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R2X 3B6.
Or you can go to the Christmas Cheer Board’s website to donate online: christmascheerboard.ca/ways-you-can-help/donate. Make sure to click on the “fund” pull-down menu to ensure your donation is credited to Miracle on Mountain.
We’re also asking classrooms and schools — as well as anyone else who wants to help — to bring in new, unwrapped toys to put under our Christmas tree at 1355 Mountain Ave. And, if schools contact us at miracleonmountain@winnipegfreepress.com ahead of time, we’ll make sure our journalists record the generosity of Manitoba’s young people.
This week’s donors
Bob Dunkeld, $15.15
Lynne Claydon, $100
In memory of Anastasia & Wilfred Moore, $250
Doreen & Douglas Wilkie, $100
E. Kulbaba, $35
L. S. & Helen Hamenda, $50
Grant & Sheila Woods, $200
Rene & Lise Dupuis, $150
141 Fishing Club Inc, $50
Allan & Louise Fedoruk, $50
In memory of Doris & Bert Rathbone, $100
Gary & Marge Campbell, $100
Patricia & Daniel Toupin, $25
Carol & Kelly Blatz, $25
Donna Tellier, $25
M Doreen Derrett, $100
Helen Schaetzle, $200
William & Carole Enefer, $50
Margaret & Alexander Spence, $100
Bernard & Patricia McMullan, $100
Evelyn Howard, $25
Elsie M Neufeld, $25
Colin McEachern, $150
John Borley, $100
Mary E Shabbits, $25
In memory of G.L. Savoie, $25
In memory of Bob & Joan Caswill, $50
In memory of Steve & Dora Olafson (Riverton, MB), $200
In memory of Jeffrey J. Hall, $50
Stan & Susan Eckford, $150
Joyce Anderson, $50
Jane Tataryn, $2,000
Ronald Wl De Man, $100
Rod & Iron Assoc., $200
John Guy, $200
Elsie Marner, $25
Bernice Heinrichs, $100
Val Allardice, $100
L. Macleod, $200
In memory of Marc & Mary Bockstael, $200
Sidney & Catherine Garvie, $40
In memory of Brian J. Hyslop, $100
Rick & Christine Station, $50
Carefree Curling & Recreation Assoc., $100
Betty & Lynne Nesbitt, $50
Dolores Laurendeau, $50
Douglas & Mary Cobb, $60
Carol Forbes, $25
Rose Lock, $50
In memory of Gerry Varnes JR, $100
Lorna Steeds, $100
Donna E Cronmiller, $100
Thomas Ian & Helen Bell, $50
In memory of Tony & Olive Semchuk, $200
Westminster United Church, $200
In memory of Fred Anderson, $200
Isobel & Robert MacDonald, $50
Victor & Selma Bock, $67
St Vital CC Past Presidents Assoc., $100
In memory of Carolyn Gillespie, $80
In memory of Cliff Schmidt, $200
Isabel J Crowson, $50
Marianne Hodges, $50
Margaret Stuart, $30
Honouring Bruce & Pat McBeth, $500
In memory of Leif Thomas McLure, $100
M. Haddock, $300
In memory of Helen & Kay, $100
Sonia Hosfield, $50
Aileen Halpenny, $50
Ada Greeley, $25
Nancy & Leigh Cullen, $200
Allan & Colette Aussant, $50
In memory of Tim & Susan Griffiths, $50
Mary Edwardsson, $200
Kathleen & Roy Turnock, $25
Michael Stones, $40
Richard & Janet Lemoine, $40
Lynda & Merrill Wozniak, $100
Vincent Petrachek, $75
Concordia Village Residents & Staff, $231
In memory of Rebecca Reimer, $100
Grace Ann Curry, $35
Beverley Swan, $80
In memory of Gordon & Ivey Davidson, $50
Khartum Ladies’ Auxiliary, $165
William & Claudia Senkiw, $1,000
In memory of Charlotte Friesen, $50
In memory of Alex Sandy Turnbull, $50
Deanna Wright, $100
Kenneth & Kathryn Hackett, $25
Frank Schmidt, $100
Seniors Melody Group- General, $100
In memory of Ron & Edie Zimmerman, $100
In memory of Buck & Eva Hay, $250
Barbara Latocki, $50
Jeannette & Marcel Trudeau, $200
Emile & Lorraine Lambert, $100
Lorraine Lambert, $50
Donald & Nicola Cairns, $100
Madeline Stewart & Carol Schaap, $200
Dianna Watts, $30
In memory of Evelyn Whitehead, $50
In memory of Rebecca Reimer, $50
In memory of Myrna E. Stubbings, $100
Anonymous – 6 donations, $615.15
Today’s total: $13,788.30
Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press’s city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin.
Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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History
Updated on Saturday, December 9, 2017 8:29 AM CST: Photo added