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'I Wanted To Help People'

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By COURTNEY CAIRNS PASTOR, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 19, 2007

Updated: 12/17/2007 07:13 pm

Additional photos

LAKE MAGDALENE - Bowls are filled, pets have toys, and foster kids received Christmas surprises thanks to a growing group of students at Lake Magdalene Elementary.

The third-, fourth- and fifth-graders filled tables in the school's cafeteria last week to learn about their newest project, creating blankets for wounded veterans.

They would take two swaths of fleece, fringed at the ends, and knot the fringes together to form each thick, double-layer blanket.

The blankets would go to Operation Helping Hand, which would distribute them to veterans wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan who are recovering at the James A. Haley VA Medical Center.

Operation Helping Hand is a project the Military Officers Association of America's Tampa chapter that donates gift certificates, cell phones and money for lodging and travel to recovering veterans and their families.

Retired Navy Capt. Bob Silah, chapter president, flipped through a Power-Point presentation to show the Lake Magdalene students who would benefit from their work.

He pointed out a photo of a young Marine sitting in a wheelchair and said a man like him would use the blanket to drape over his legs to stay warm.

"They understand that somebody cares for them," Silah said.

That motivation to reach out during the hours between school dismissal and dinnertime has attracted 80 children to Lake Magdalene's Kids Into Community Service club.

In its second year, the club has more than doubled its participation.

"I wanted to help people," said 8-year-old Montana Denton, who is in third grade. "I feel like it's not fair to people to do it just for us."

Students meet for an afternoon once or twice a month for projects throughout the year. They created bowls for the Empty Bowls luncheon in downtown Tampa, which raises money to feed the homeless.

They donated food and toys to pets at the Humane Society. They walked to promote research on juvenile diabetes. They collected teddy bears for the Rough Riders to distribute.

Madison Stuart, 9, liked picking out gifts for children in the foster care system. The Parent-Teacher Association gave the money, and the club members chose CDs, DVDs and other items.

"It's kind of heartwarming," the fourth-grader said, "because you think of all the stuff you have."

Madison sat across the table from Josie Chappell, also in fourth grade, knotting the ends of the blankets. Josie, 10, wore the club's Do You Need a Helping Hand T-shirt. Madison said without the club she would be at home watching television. Josie would be killing time until her mother, a teacher, could leave.

"I thought that after school I'd come here and have something fun to do," Josie said. "It's fun because we don't have to put in any money. Our PTA is a really big help."

The PTA backs the group, which it started as a community service project, said volunteer Melissa Holmes. Parents wanted projects that the students could be involved in, rather than activities that moms planned and performed and dragged their children along. "We wanted it to be a teaching opportunity," Holmes said. The students are so enthusiastic, she said, that they wind up energizing the parent volunteers.

Guidance Counselor Gina Jones, the club's school sponsor, said the students love the chance to help others. "It's amazing how positive they are," Jones said. "It just helps them feel better."

Reporter Courtney Cairns Pastor can be reached at (813) 865-1503 or cpastor@tampatrib.com.

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