Donations Fill Hearts at SLE Christmas Store

SEELEY LAKE – While children love to receive gifts on Christmas, the ability to give gifts to those they love brings additional joy to the season. For the past 20 years, Seeley Lake Elementary junior high teacher Patti Bartlett has organized the SLE Christmas Store. One student said it made him feel like Santa because he has gifts to put under the tree.

Bartlett said when she was in junior high her school had a Christmas Store. Her younger brother brought home a "dorky gift" he had purchased for their dad.

"His face just glowed when he gave it and it was so cool for him," said Bartlett. "I just thought if we can give little kids . . . that feeling and the independence for them to be able to shop by themselves, without their mom and dad, then I think it's pretty cool . . . and they feel so good."

Students are able to purchase one gift for each of their immediate family members. They are reminded that they are not shopping for themselves. Every item is $0.25. The teachers have the students make gift tags and bring them to the store to put on their gifts after they have been wrapped.

The eighth graders are tasked with wrapping the gifts. Before the store opened, they had a lesson on how to wrap gifts.

"Without the eighth-graders we couldn't do this. They are absolutely necessary," said Bartlett. "I don't think they like to do this because some of the kids are so picky about their wrapping. [I tell them] So were you when you were that age. It's a really good service project for them. It teaches them tolerance."

Every year the school relies on donations of money, wrapping paper, bows and new and gently used items from the community. This year, two days before the store was to open, the store was empty.

"Nobody brought anything this year, it was devastating. Every year I panic and John [Devins] says, Oh, Patti we have all this stuff," said Bartlett. "John panicked this year so it was big."

Wednesday night sixth grade teacher Sharon Teague put the word out on Facebook that the store was in need of donations. The community quickly responded.

"It was unbelievable. The day that went out on Facebook, people started bringing in stuff," said SLE Secretary Suzie Teafoe. "It was a constant stream until [Friday] morning."

When the store opened it was packed with goodies for moms, dads, brothers and sisters. Students hustled through the aisles of presents, some chose quickly while others took their time. By the end, they were all confident they had the perfect gift for those they love.

"It's an amazing thing. When you see the kids so excited to give something, their eyes all lit up and they can hardly get the words out for what they picked out," said SLE Technology Teacher and Librarian Michele Holmes who has helped with the store since her children participated. "It's a really neat way to teach giving and what the meaning is."

"I tell people if you could just visualize these little kids and older kids walking down this hall and all of them have these packages that are all wrapped," said Teafoe. "They are just beaming because they have presents to put under the tree. It just warms my heart so much. It's the greatest thing."

Any money that is brought in from the store is used to purchase wrapping and new gifts for the next year.

"I just want to thank our community. It is so amazing," said Teafoe. "I can't say enough about what they have done for these kids."

 

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