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Students Spread Holiday Cheer To Area Veterans

By SUZANNE M. SCHMIDT

IN THE LOOP

Published: December 17, 2008

Pine View Elementary School students bridged the gap between young and old while visiting the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home in Land O' Lakes Dec. 10.

Students collected items for the veterans, including crossword puzzles, pens, magazines, soaps, lotions, tissues and magnifying glasses and then wrapped them in shoeboxes and handed them out to residents.

Heather Ware and Amy Alexander are teachers at Pine View and also co-chairs for the student council, which headed up the project.

"We asked the kids at the school to donate and this is what they brought in," Ware said. "We had 110 boxes full of donations so we gave out 40 shoeboxes full of the presents and two large boxes with the extras so they can give them out as they are needed."

The school's chorus also provided a little holiday cheer thanks to music teacher Dennis Rowan. He said he helped organize the event because he felt like the veterans deserved it since they sacrificed so much for us.

Resident Whidey Price said it was the highlight of his day when the students sang "Silent Night."

"I liked the singing," Price said. "I loved it when they sang 'Silent Night.' The present was really nice, too."
Student Council members Logan Brown, 10, and Haley Anderson, 10, both stayed late after school one day to help wrap the presents and were first in line to hand them out out to residents. Brown said he thought the veterans deserved the presents, which is why he helped.

"They don't get as many presents so we thought it would be nice to give them presents filled with things they can use," Logan said. "It was nice because instead of helping people our age, we are helping older people."

Haley said she thought it was a good experience.

"We got to see the people who served our country and give them presents," Haley said.

Jean Resseger said she was happy to see what the students brought because it was all stuff she could use.

"They were thoughtful gifts," Resseger said. "I need all the stuff that is in here. I also really liked the singing. They were adorable."

Reporter Suzanne M. Schmidt can be reached at (813) 948-4288 or sschmidt@mediageneral.com.

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