By Maryanne Saxon
In the practice of giving, everyone receives.
It’s that time of year when children of all ages take painstaking care writing lists. Most of these lists mention the latest and greatest in toys and technology and are postmarked for the North Pole. The few lists made by the Thomas Jefferson student council members, however, looked quite different this holiday season.
Items such as toothpaste, candy, playing cards, games, and other treats from home made it onto their lists, as they began the first steps of creating holiday care packages for a US army company stationed in Afghanistan.
Their goal was to spread holiday cheer and thank a group of soldiers for their service to our country. Student council representatives researched what items were in demand, started a school-wide collection, and solicited donations from local businesses.
This endeavor really paid off. The TJ student Council was able to fill 22 boxes with assorted goodies. They were boxed and mailed along with the best gifts of all, letters of gratitude and holiday cards.
“By shipping now, the soldiers will get their gifts by Christmas. The care packages are our Christmas presents to them,” explained 5th grader Olivia McCaffrey.
“The packages are filled with things that we use every day and we need everyday. The difference is, we can get the things we need very easily. The soldiers have to stock up on things like toothpaste and other toiletries. It’s much harder for them to get the things they need. They will cherish the items we are sending.”
“It’s our big thank you to them,” shared TJ student council member Stephanie Yanes. “It’s our way of saying thank you for serving our country.”
Who knew that sending packages to Afghanistan may not be as easy as Ol’ Saint Nick makes it look every year? Santa may have circumvented the US Postal Service by using his own sled and reindeer, but the TJ elves needed to find funding to ship all their goodies across the world.
On Dec. 11, 2015, the T.J. student council offered Thomas Jefferson’s first Movie Night, featuring the summer blockbuster, Inside Out. Youngsters were welcomed to the event in hopes of raising money to cover shipping costs. Tickets were $5 and were a real steal, given the price of movie tickets at local theaters.
Giving didn’t stop there. Besides giving students an opportunity to have a fun Friday night with friends and a good flick, the Friday event allowed parents to kick off a fun weekend.
With elementary aged kids snuggled at TJ, parents were given a few hours to shop and enjoy a cup of cocoa (or cheer) sans kids. Talk about a great gift on a Friday in December!
After the movie, the children were treated to a Q and A session with former servicemen Peter Leotsakas and Brian Larcom. They explained what it meant to receive packages from home.
“The Student Council did an AMAZING job. They found wonderful contacts such as local orthodontists and hotels to donate items, helped sell tickets to the movie, and worked to sort and package the boxes. They took it all very seriously. We are very proud of them,” shared T.J. teacher Nelly Tsonopoulos, co-adviser to the student government.
Tsonopoulos and fifth grade teacher Karen Thompson were the project masterminds. Thompson’s stepson, Jason Porter, is stationed in Afghanistan. Helping her T.J. family share a little bit of home with Jason and his military family made this holiday a very special one.
“I am so proud of these students and grateful for the generosity of our school and our community,” said Thompson. “The true spirit of the holidays is alive and well in each of our students. “
The wonderful spirit of the holidays sometimes appears in the most uncanny of places. While struggling to carry in the boxes to the local post office in Convent Station, Thompson made quite a sight. Santa better watch out…he may have some competition! Thompson can manage a load of gifts.
During the teacher’s long wait to get all of the necessary shipment documents, a woman in line to buy stamps overheard Thompson describing the T.J. activity.
Before leaving the Post office, she casually walked up to Thompson and quietly handed her a $40 donation to the cause.
‘Thank you for what you are doing,” was all the kind stranger said before walking out the door.
In this season of giving, as we applaud the children’s initiative, organization and generosity, it also gives us the opportunity to shine a light on all the servicemen and women who give of themselves each day to protect us all throughout the year.
Many thanks to those members of the military who will not be snuggled in their own beds this holiday season. We hope and pray that next year you will home with all of your loved ones.
