December 7, 2005
Kids get into gift giving spirit
Optimist Club program lets children buy presents for their family
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Honoring the adage that it is better to give than receive, this weekend members of the Traverse City Optimist Club helped 45 area children shop, purchase and wrap presents for loved ones and special friends.
While low-income families in the region can give their children's wish list to agencies and organizations for help, the Optimist Club allows the children to do a little giving themselves.
For the 13th year, the local chapter of the international service organization has funded and helped out at the shopping spree, which this year was held Saturday and Sunday mornings at Target. Pairing a volunteer with each young person, most of whom came with a list of ideas, the shoppers fanned out into the store to spend their $75 budget.
Sunday morning, Cindy Pineda helped her new friend Jame search for just the right present for an older sister. They sifted through CDs, DVDs and video games to find one of the last presents on Jame's list, which included seven people.
"At least I'm not the only one who has a hard time shopping," joked Pineda, adding of the shopping: "We're making adjustments as we go along."
After fixing on a copy of the movie 'Madagascar,' their haul was complete: four ornaments plus a GameCube game, computer light and mouse pad.
"I made a detailed list," said Jame, who has participated in the program for three years.
Ciara, 11, wound up with a small surplus of money after choosing presents for her two sisters, grandma, mom and foster mom.
"We had to get three more things for my little sister, then we saw her [also shopping] and said, 'Uh, oh!'¡" Ciara said.
Child and Family Services, the Boys and Girls Club and Big Brothers, Big Sisters choose the children for the shopping opportunity. Donations for the event come from the community, including individuals and companies. In addition to giving money in advance, Optimist Club volunteers often throw in a little more when needed to help a child complete their list.
The Optimist Club members eagerly volunteer their time for this project, which this year helped 14 shoppers Saturday morning and 31 on Sunday morning.
"This is pretty much the event that everyone wants to do," said Maurice Dennis of the Optimist Club. "Every year these kids get presents, but this way they get to give."
Target holds one checkout lane each morning for the program and also turns over their break room every year for the wrapping. Santa Claus also stops by and sends each young participant with a small gift of their own, in addition to the ones they picked out themselves for others.
Larry and Donna Dodd were on hand Sunday morning to help Tommy, 9, select and wrap gifts for mom, dad, sisters and cousin. Members of the Optimist Club for only a few years, they make time to help with the shopping spree every year. After a morning immersed in Christmas spirit, Larry Dodd believes the adults get a bigger kick out of it than the kids do.
"It's a nice thing to do, here you kind of know where your dollars are going and get to watch them in action," he said. "And another thing, these kids don't know how to wrap a package, how to roll it over and make square corners. There's a lot of opportunity for teaching."