Students give up gifts

Published 4:32 pm Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Fifth- through eighth-grade students at Mountain View Christian School took on their principal Brian Gang’s old Christmas tradition by sponsoring two local foster children this Christmas. Gang said he wanted to help teach students to view giving in the same light as receiving.

“I was a little worried the kids wouldn’t buy into it at all but when I explained Christmas was actually more about giving than getting, some were excited and some weren’t sure,” Gang said.

He challenged students to break their tradition of a Christmas gift exchange and bring that money to donate to children going through a tough time. Students were divided into two groups and taken to buy clothes, toys and board games for their sponsored child. While shopping, those students who weren’t sure about the new project became enthusiastic with the hands-on experience.

Gang said he was very happy with how the students willingly gave their money and learned a valuable life lesson that giving can be as much of a blessing as receiving.

Students also learned how to shop within a budget and what might seem like a lot of money doesn’t go very far sometimes.

For more information on sponsoring a foster child, contact Colleen Robinson, North Olympic Foster Parents Association coordinator, at 460-5560 or crcrir@aol.com, or Valerie Brooks, Court Appointed Special Advocate Association coordinator for Clallam County at 565-2644.

Mountain View Christian School, 255 Medsker Road, Sequim, is a first- through eighth-grade, faith-based, state accredited facility. Contact the school at 683-6170.