Clipboard in hand, personal shopper Loni Gabrielli makes a list and checks it twice.
Her first client at Sugar Creek Elementary’s holiday store is her seven-year-old daughter Valorie.
“It’s actually awesome,” said Gabrielli. “I love coming up here. It helps my daughter out that I’m more involved with her school. It’s really rewarding. The other kids know who I am when I come up here and they can look up to me.”
Gabrielli is a volunteer with the Independence School District’s ‘Holiday Helpers‘ program, which helps district parents provide their families with a meal and gifts this holiday season.
“It puts a smile on my face,” said Gabrielli. “It puts a smile on their face knowing that you were able to get your child that extra something you weren’t able to get before.”
Through the ‘Holiday Helpers’ program, parents can volunteer at their kids’ schools and then apply those hours toward gift cards. This year around 200 families will participate in the ‘Holiday Helpers’ program, which will help around 400 children who attend Independence Schools.
“They may read to students, they may provide tutoring, they may help in the library with activities, tutoring, helping with homework, helping with recreational activities,” said John Tramel, who heads ‘Holiday Helpers.’
Tramel said the program breaks down as follows: a parent must volunteer within the school district or at district approved community event for at least ten hours. In return, the parent receives one $50 gift card, which can be used at four locally owned businesses. If a parent has more than one child in the district, he or she must volunteer an additional five hours for each child they wish to get a $50 gift card for. The parents who volunteer also get a one time $45 gift card to a local supermarket to buy groceries for a holiday meal or to help them bridge the food gap during the winter break.
“We want to create a process where everyone feels empowered to give and everyone feels grateful to receive,” said Tramel.
While Gabrielli couldn’t reveal what she’ll buy Valorie for Christmas with the gift cards, she did say it would be something special, so that her daughter can have a memorable Christmas morning.
The ‘Holiday Helpers’ program is funded by donations. To learn how to donate, become a volunteer or offer your organization as a volunteer opportunity, click here.