Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 27, 1991 TAG: 9103270183
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BARBARA HOLCOMB SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Teacher Martha Ann Stallings has 25 third-grade volunteers who are working together to help other children, some older, some younger and some about their age.
It started with a teacher who likes to help others. Stallings is quick not to take credit for what her class has done, though. She started the ball rolling by asking her children if they would like to do a project this year to help the community.
They wanted to.
"A parent who happened to be helping in the classroom that day suggested doing something to help the Shelter Home," Stallings said.
The Shelter Home is a place where children in need get protection and help. It's a non-profit home funded through the United Way and churches.
The state places children in the home while they and their parents undergo counseling to bring a family in crisis together again.
"The students themselves came up with the theme of `Kids Helping Kids,' and we thought that visiting the Shelter Home would be the best opportunity for them to help make a positive difference in other children's lives," Stallings said.
The children began learning about volunteer program management. And their teacher was quick to point out that the class made the decisions, took the initiative and followed through.
They looked for canned foods, winter clothing, mittens and gloves and paper products. They came back with all that, and money, which was an unexpected surprise.
"Children want to help others. They do unselfish things " Stalling said. "These kids would give another child the clothes off their backs if it was needed."
Stallings' pupils have visited the Shelter Home three times so far this year (Thanksgiving, Christmas and Valentine's Day), and they plan to go once more this spring. They take cards if some of the children have had birthdays. They play together.
"My kids are unbelievably excited when they're there," Stallings said, "I have to set a limit as to how long we can stay."
The children have felt the rewards of their good efforts by the response of others. Their parents have contributed, driven carloads of kids on busy afternoons and made food to take. They've seen neighbors give. They are making new friends.
"They've seen others who don't have much of what most of them have. They've realized they're pretty lucky," their teacher said.
But the story doesn't end here.
Stallings entered her class' project in the "Spirit of Giving" contest sponsored by Dominion Bank in Roanoke.
She didn't make a big deal about it to her kids, since she wanted them to maintain their unselfish motivation, and she didn't want to get their hopes up.
They won. The class was among three schools out of the 25 that entered in Southwest Virginia to win $500.
Once again, they had to make some decisions. And they gave something to the community ($100 to the Shelter Home), something to the school (a set of books), and something to their own class (games, books and a party at the end of the year).
Stallings hopes the story continues.
"I want my students to encourage their next teacher to do something like this as a class," she said. "I don't want them to lose their awareness that there are children who don't live with their parents or parent. I hope they continue helping others for the rest of their lives."
by CNB