When 80 Beach Middle School 7th-graders gather with their families to celebrate Christmas this year, they will have a much better understanding of how much more fun it is to give than it is to receive.
Thanks to their efforts, three Detroit families will have gifts for Christmas this year.
The project began because of the efforts of Kallie Nowitzke, a special education teacher, who was part of this Christmas in Detroit program while working at a previous teaching job at Lanse-Creuse in McComb County.
“We participated in the Christmas program, rebuilt a playground and donated food and clothes to the (Detroit) homeless,” she said.
In two weeks – from Dec. 3-14 – Beach students fundraised $1,165 and change during ‘change wars’, said teacher Dennis Strzyzewski, and the school adopted three families.
Plus, the three top fundraising classes – Kim Eder’s 7th-grade math class, Scott Riedel’s 7th-grade math class and Sarah Bunton’s 6th-grade science class – will be treated with a pizza party for their efforts.
So, about 80 students were bused to the Meijer store on Jackson Road in Scio Township, were given $131 per team to shop for the families – and they had to budget, research the best deals, and calculate sales tax.
“They learned something about the value of a dollar,” Strzyzewski said.
But, if they wanted to go to Detroit to see the looks on the family’s faces when the wrapped gifts were delivered, they had to write an essay about why they wanted to take part in the experience.
Twenty-six students were chosen to make the trip on Dec. 20 where they met some of the family members.
“I’m really proud of the students and staff,” said Principal Nick Angel who added, “I was 100 percent behind this project and this further supports our mission of learning beyond the classroom.”
Nowitzke said the student essays were very well thought out and carefully written. She said they contained sentiments such as “I’m lucky and fortunate for what I have,” “I know what it’s like to not have a Christmas,” and “It’s important to give to others who are less fortunate.”
“It’s important for them to understand there are a lot of people who need help,” she said.
“Giving is definitely more fulfilling than receiving,” said Audrey Phillips, 12, of her interest in the project. “Making people’s day makes your Christmas better.”
For Lucas deRosia, 12, said it was an eye-opening experience as the students drove by burned out houses. He said he has a much better appreciation of having a home, what he has and where he lives.
For Zoe Bowers, 12, shopping for the 9-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy brought back memories of when she was younger.
“When we did the fundraiser and decorated the boxes for the coins and got to go to Meijer to buy the gifts – that was so amazing.”
The highlight for the Beach students was actually meeting one child and his cousin that they’d shopped for. Plus, they were able to play football with the Detroit children, paint their nails, and experience what it was like for some of the children to meet Santa for the first time.
Five hundred homeless people were served by the program, Nowitzke said.
“We brought nail polish and painted their nails purple and other colors,” Phillips said. “It was so special for them; they’d never had their nails painted before.”
All the Beach children said they enjoyed seeing their Detroit recipients smile and be so happy.
“It was the best experience,” Phillips said.
“To me, the kids seemed pretty happy,” said Meagan Conley, 13, “Which brought me joy.”
All the children said they plan to play it forward and do more things for those in need in the future.
And, they all agreed how fortunate they were to live in Chelsea and have so many things.
“I’ll never complain to my parents again about what I have,” Phillips said.
Nor will they forget what they did to make some special Christmas wishes come true.
