Spirit Of Sharing Alive And Well At VCMS Each Holiday Season

VERNON, CT — For a dozen-plus years now, the spirit of giving has traveled the halls of Vernon Center Middle Schools during the holiday season.

It's called the annual Holiday Share, a program through which VCMS students can shop for items with credits earned for living up to the school's core values of safety, organization, achievement, responsibility and respect.

With their SOAR cards, students can shop for gifts for their loved ones among items donated by school staff, their families and friends. The VCMS library is transformed into a "magical" shopping experience for students, said organizers Jennifer Strong, a technology education teacher, Christina Roy, a sixth grade social studies teacher, and Teresa Schmitt, a computer education teacher.

"The Holiday Share is truly a labor of love when it comes to gathering items from friends and family, sorting and setup," Strong said.

The Holiday Share has taken place at Vernon Center Middle School for more than 12 years and would not be possible without the "generosity" of school staff members, friends and relatives, the teachers said.

"The true magic of this event is hearing our students shop," Roy said. "The conversations we hear really bring the holiday spirit to life."

Added Strong, "Students also help each other by sharing their extra SOAR card with fellow students if they are short at check out," Strong said. "They exemplify the holiday spirit and paying it forward."

Each student has two opportunities to visit the Holiday Share from Dec. 19-22. Festive outfits highlight the week.

The items students can select include stuffed animals, jewelry, candles, mugs, frames, soaps and lotions, holiday décor, puzzles and games.

Putting on the Holiday Share is a massive undertaking. School staff members help run the event and students — including former VCMS students — come back to help. This year, local Girl Scouts, the VCMS boys basketball team and Rockville High students helped too.

It's a constant process, even after Thursday's final day of sharing for 2022.

"No sooner does this year's Holiday Share end, we go to work preparing for next year by collecting donations and we welcome assistance from the public," Roy said, adding it’s always a challenge to find items children can buy for the men in their lives."

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Anyone interested in donating to the VCMS Holiday Share can contact Christina Roy at christina.roy@vernonct.org.