THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: Sunday, December 24, 1995 TAG: 9512220217 SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL SOURCE: BY HOLLY WESTER, CORRESPONDENT LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
Donations were piled high in Lois Holleman's chemistry classroom at Celebration Station - but this time, the gifts weren't for the staff and students of Princess Anne High School.
Thanks to a drive headed up by Holleman, science teacher Dennis Nixon, parent Sheila Ferguson and the school's Science and Environmental Advocates (SEA) Club, countless boxes of new and gently used items were collected by the Cavaliers and given to four needy families Thursday afternoon.
Those on the receiving end were three moms, a grandmother and 19 children from 19 months to 12 years.
``The school has been getting so much publicity about what they're receiving,'' said Ferguson, whose 17-year-old daughter, Lori, is a senior there. ``Nobody knows how much they're giving back.''
Besides donating everything from money to food to clothing, students, staff and parents went out in the community to solicit more gifts. Cyndy Winters, marketing teacher at Green Run High School, collected some merchandise, while Montgomery Ward, Hardee's, McDonald's and Woolworth's served as corporate sponsors.
The parents gathered in Holleman's classroom to sift through the mounds of donations. ``We lay it all out and let them pick what they need,'' Ferguson said. ``We feel that's the best way to do it.''
While SEA club members helped, the smiling parents took their time bagging presents and sharing pictures of the little ones. ``I think it's really neat that we can do this,'' said sophomore Amanda Rice, 15. ``I like to help other people.''
Holleman added a special touch to the day by making two dozen fur-trimmed red stockings for all the children and parents. SEA club members cut them out, while Holleman sewed them up, ironed on holiday decals and monogrammed each. The students stuffed them with candy, games and other toys.
``I think this is really touching,'' said Eve Jones, while shopping for her four grandchildren, of whom she has custody. ``They have just done a terrific job. Everybody has just been so overwhelmingly helpful.'' Jones said she's waiting until Christmas morning to surprise the grandkids - ranging in age from 5 to 12. She added, ``This Christmas is truly going to be merry.'' ILLUSTRATION: Princess Anne High students, parents and teachers collect food,
toys and clothes to be donated to four families.
Eve Jones checks clothing she is collecting for the four
grandchildren she is rearing. Although Jones picked up the clothing,
food and gifts on Thursday, she will wait until Christmas morning to
surprise the grandkids - ranging in age from 5 to 12 - with the
largesse.
Staff photos by
D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
by CNB