Elementary Schoolers Demonstrate the Spirit of Giving

This holiday season, some of Rosemount’s smallest community members are giving back in a big way.

and Rosemount Elementary have both instituted programs to teach their students about the spirit of giving. 

“Each year, it is embraced by the students,” said Ann Kvittem, an instructional assistant and physical education teacher at Shannon Park, in reference to the school’s annual winter service project.

For this year’s school-wide community service project, Shannon Park took on two separate causes. The school collected food items for the Community Action Program Agency, while also accepting money and gift donations for Armful of Love, an organization that gives Christmas gifts to families in need.

Shannon Park’s winter community service project took place from Nov. 21 to Dec. 2. All told, the students donated 15 boxes of food, eight boxes of gift items and $1,287 in monetary donations, all of which were delivered Dec. 7.

Rosemount Elementary also encouraged students to donate non-perishable food items as part of a school-wide food drive. The food drive’s proceeds went to the Family Resource Center.

During Dec. 5-9, Rosemount Elementary collected enough food items to fill two carloads. The donations were delivered Dec. 15.

“People were very, very generous,” said Susan Piepgras, the school social worker at Rosemount Elementary.

Piepgras stated that one of the primary purposes of the holiday food drive is to provide students with an opportunity to give back to their community. If the numbers are any indication, these young community members are well on their way to understanding the spirit of giving.