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Happening ... in the Local Church
 Parent
volunteers help student shoppers at this year’s “elf workshop” at St.
Mary Cathedral School in Lafayette. (Photos by Caroline B. Mooney) |
 Kindergartener
Devon Hardin talks over a purchase with volunteer Tracy Smith. |
 Third-grader
Jada Barrett, right, shares an “elf workshop” find with fellow student
Alise Weeks. |
 Kindergartener
Hannah Chia-Joann writes a gift tag. |
By Caroline B. Mooney
The Catholic Moment
LAFAYETTE — Third-grader John Spencer really s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d his Christmas budget at an “elf workshop” held at St. Mary Cathedral School.
“I found something for everyone and I still have 75 cents left,” he said. “I spent $9.20. I bought for my mom, three brothers and my dad.”
Preschool through sixth-grade students from St. Mary and St. Boniface schools had the chance to buy gifts for everyone on their Christmas lists at the workshop held Dec. 13-14.
“The
kids really have fun doing this,” said Susan Bowman, a parishioner of the
Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception and elf workshop
chairperson. “I tell everyone on my kid’s shopping list to be excited no
matter what you receive. The idea we stress with the kids is that it is
better to give than to receive.”
Forms had been sent home so children and their parents could come up with lists of who to shop for, and the students brought in money to spend on items that ranged in cost from 15 cents to $5.
Parent volunteers were on hand to help keep shoppers on budget. Once gifts were paid for, volunteers helped wrap and label them.
“We let parents know that if money is a problem, we can help,” Bowman said. “In past years, we’ve had kids who are interested in shopping for themselves, but I really haven’t seen that this year. They have been very generous — they really love it.”
Dec. 14 was “elf night” — a time for fourth- through sixth-grade students from St. Boniface School to shop, said Tracy Smith, president of the Parent Teacher Organization of St. Mary and St. Boniface schools. Students had the option to buy gifts or make crafts they had pre-selected.
“It’s something they are doing independently,” Smith said. “We tell them to go home and put their gifts under the tree. That’s the exciting thing — doing it on their own. It’s fun to see their excitement and give them their independence.”
Terry Kempf, a third-grade student, saw what he wanted to buy for his mother as soon as he came into the gym. He had a harder time finding a gift for his grandfather.
“My mom already has a gift for me, but she won’t tell me what it is,” Kempf said. “I’m not sure where I’ll put her present until Christmas.”
Sandra Gallo, a parent volunteer, has a preschool son who couldn’t wait to give her the gift he had bought at the workshop.
“He bought me a bracelet and I talked to him about waiting, but he just couldn’t,” Gallo said, “not even for five minutes. He gave it to me right away.”
“I think I will keep gifts in my closet until we get our tree up,” said third-grader Alise Weeks. She was buying for two sisters and two brothers.
“I think the gifts here are cool,” said classmate Jada Barrett.
“I am shopping for my mom, dad, sister and brother and my dog,” said Devon Hardin, a kindergarten student. “My mom needs a necklace.”
Kids Korner Gift Shoppes from Frankfort provided all the items for sale. Proceeds from the workshop go to the PTO of St. Mary Cathedral and St. Boniface schools.