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The season for giving – not getting
This was the central theme Dec. 14 when the Blacksburg and Cherokee Technology Center FFA student chapters held their eighth annual Christmas party. Nearly 170 students, faculty and members of the school’s business advisory council attended the party to watch 10 underprivileged children experience the magic of the Christmas holiday season. The Cherokee Technology Center faculty worked with area school guidance counselors to select the children who were helped at this year’s Christmas party. The event is the main community service project of FFA, a student agriculture club. “This is an event that gets bigger and better every year. Students who have already graduated are coming back to help out because they believe in what we are doing,” Cherokee Techology Center FFA advisor and agriculture teacher Bob Lail said. The Christmas party was moved to the school’s multipurpose room in 2004 because of the large number of school staff and local residents who came to share the evening. It offered the children of faculty members the added bonus of being able to see Santa Claus in a safe environment. “I started the Christmas party when I worked in Cleveland County because I wanted students to learn the true meaning of Christmas,” Lail said. “I think it really opens the eyes of our young boys and girls about what they have at home compared to some kids.” An anonymous donor gave $400 towards this year’s Christmas party. Faculty members provided $500. FFA members used proceeds from their annual Spring plant sale to help with expenses. Clothing and toys were purchased for the children participating in the Christmas party, Cherokee Technology Center job placement director Mandy Painter said. “Each child received a stack of eight to 10 gifts. It’s just a blessing for kids to see this,” Painter said. “It teaches a powerful lesson to kids of all ages. Christmas is a time for giving, not getting.” |
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