For the third year in a row, the students at Amazing Grace Academy in Palmer bought toys for other kids in the community. As part the school’s annual Spirit Week activities, students each donated $1 every day to create a pool of money to buy toys. (Some families gave more, others less; the donations were not mandatory.)
The Friday morning before Christmas, the students went to Target in Wasilla to spend the money. Groups of students, ranging from pre-K to 12th grade, were given equal amounts of money. Each group then decided what toys to buy with its allotment. The toys were taken back to the school and presented to Betsy Woodin, Alaska Center for Resource Families director, an organization that helps provide support for families and children in crisis.
The unusual part of this program is that the students get to choose the toys by themselves, without adult input. Kids buying toys for kids seems to be an effective way to ensure the toys are ones that will be wanted and used by the recipients. The students all benefit by seeing in a tangible way how they can help others during the Christmas season.
Amazing Grace Academy is a pre-K–12 school operated as a part of the Adventist education system. For more information, go to amazinggraceacademy.org or contact Trina Sandvik at 907-745-2691.
Amazing Grace Academy students not only raise money but also select the toys to buy for needy kids during the school's annual toy drive.
