For the past while, approximately 20 kids in grades 3-5 from the Nelson Christian Community School have been coming down to the S.H.A.R.E. Nelson store once a week for an hour to help out and learn about the importance of volunteering and giving back to their community.
Through the weeks, students have been shown how to recycle almost everything and have also helped with merchandizing, sorting and preparing items for Stepping Stones and the Women’s Center.
Along the way, the students have learned many things about the community, including how to try and keep items out of the landfill and the different ways the store tries to raise money for Our Daily Bread (its main purpose).
The students also visited the soup kitchen at Our Daily Bread to chat with the workers and volunteers and learned a little about how there are people within their community that don’t have enough to eat, even kids.
They also helped to collect blankets and winter gear for Stepping Stones shelter and items that the Women’s Center could use.
The kids jumped at the chance to help those in need. For the last week visit, organizers created a theme for the Christmas Season.
When the children arrived, there were given random Christmas cards and asked to write a positive and encouraging message or to draw a picture to be put on the tables at Our Daily Bread’s Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve.
They also decorated trees.
Afterwards, staff sat down and read the cards, which were filled with a an amazing depth of caring and understanding.