The joy of Shopping (for others) Eight-graders in Bangor learn a valuable lesson this Christmas season by giving as good as they get

People always tell me I have the perfect job.

They’re right, of course. Getting paid to shop is, as most would imagine, a pretty fabulous way to make a living.

But there are other payoffs, as well. And they have nothing to do with a credit card, price tag or clearance rack.

Sometimes, I get to work on something that’s less about buying and more about giving. A recent foray with a group of pupils from All Saints Catholic School in Bangor recently proved to be just that. Their teacher, Melanie Walden, called in November to ask if I’d be interested in speaking to her language arts class about my job, which I’m always happy to do.

Then she mentioned something even more interesting: For the first time, her eighth-graders planned to raise several hundred dollars to provide gifts for a needy family this Christmas. I was hooked.

Apparently, so were they.

Instead of raising a few hundred dollars, they raised $1,544.35. In three weeks’ time. And instead of helping one family, they helped five. Each had wishes that these eighth-graders were happy to fulfill.

“It’s nice to know I’m helping someone other than myself,” Katelyn Gerow, 14, said as she curled ribbon into an elegant bow atop a just-wrapped book on Tuesday. “You don’t know these people, but you know they’re going to be thankful.”

Over the last month and a half, the pupils held a parents’ night out fundraiser, in which they baby-sat, watched movies, played basketball and video games with a bunch of tots so their parents could have an evening on the town. Then they threw a luau and charged middle-schoolers $5 apiece to dance amid the palm trees and tropical decorations in the All Saints gym. Parents and parishioners at local churches donated money and gifts.

Then the kids hit the stores. I tagged along to help them find bargains, but they didn’t need much help – they had an eye for quality and a desire to get the most gifts possible for each family.

Last week, they combed the racks at Old Navy (where they had a few coupons), looking for fashionable, comfortable clothing for children and adults alike. One group carefully chose coordinating tops and stylish jeans for the girls, while another group compared coats, cozy sweat shirts and warm gloves for the boys. In the end, they spent a little over $200 for a whole bunch of clothes.

Then they descended on Target, where socks, warm pajamas and cuddly bathrobes were the order of the day. At Wal-Mart, matching blankets and comforters filled their carts, and The Shepherd’s Path was their destination for the religious books and games one family requested. Mrs. Walden braved the malls solo on Saturday to buy baby clothes and other gifts at Kohl’s and J.C. Penney. Each piece was selected with care.

“I was thinking, we need to get them some good presents, stuff we thought they would like,” Rachel Huber, 13, recalled while taking a break from wrapping on Tuesday. “I think we did a good job.”

So do I.

On Tuesday, they gathered in two large conference rooms off the school’s gym to wrap the last of the gifts. A small group of girls carefully wrote names on Christmas stockings stuffed with goodies while their teacher, Mrs. Walden, admired a beribboned box.

“Right there, look at that,” she said, smiling. “They’re not just slapping it together. It was so impressive to see them look and pick things out with such care. … I don’t think the families when they asked for this help expected what they’re going to get. They’re going to be surprised and that’s good – Christmas is for that.”

Above all, Christmas is for giving, as these eighth-graders proved.

“For these kids, this is probably one of the first Christmases they’ve ever had,” Allie Emery said as she and her friends perused the huge piles of gifts.

“It’s not just the presents, though,” Alyssa Foley added, letting the words trail off.

“Just to know somebody cares for you,” Sarah Diamond said.

That’s the best gift of all.