Spirit of giving
December 20th, 2007 by 
Alica
Students at all five Brandon Valley schools are collecting money and items to help those less fortunate.
In some cases, the gifts are going overseas, to military personnel. Other gifts are going to Indian reservations in South Dakota. Some gifts will go to Sioux Falls, to the Humane Society and the Food Pantry.
In many cases, though, the gifts and money collected at the schools will remain right here in Brandon Valley. Superintendent David Pappone has said that about 15 percent of students qualify for free and reduced school lunches. That is a much lower percentage than some South Dakota schools, but it is a lot in sheer numbers. According to the Oct. 22, 2007, school board minutes, Brandon Valley has 3,073 students. Fifteen percent of that is 460 students. That doesn’t count preschool siblings and parents who also might be going hungry at home.
Are you surprised at these numbers? What do you think of student giving this holiday season? Should we as a community do more? If so, what?
Posted in Uncategorized | 
December 21st, 2007 at 8:22 pm
I’m surprised the percentage is so high. What are the income levels used to determine this? I donate to other areas because I just assumed the Brandon area is mainly lower to upper middle class. As a community, I think we should help our own first. Does Brandon have a food bank? A mayor’s Christmas tree or other fundraiser to buy gifts for local children?
December 21st, 2007 at 10:32 pm
Brandon does not have a food bank but perhaps should.
Determining who qualifies as “in need” sometimes is difficult. One way is to go by the number of children in the school district who sign up and qualify for free and reduced meals. You can find those guidelines on the school’s Web site, www.brandonvalleyschools.com.
There is no mayor’s Christmas tree, but if you read the story about the spirit of giving at the schools this month (it’s on brandoninfo.com), you will learn of some of the local programs designed to help others.
The weekend food backpack program is one of them. Brandon Valley Middle School and Valley Springs Elementary started the program this fall, and it may spread to all the district’s schools. Qualifying students can take home each weekend a backpack filled with nonperishable food items. They bring the backpack back to school on Monday to be refilled.
The Angel Tree at the high school this year provided gifts for 90 Brandon Valley children, whose names were acquired by referral and also by families’ requests.
I’ve talked to people in all of the schools, and I’ve been told that the teachers see kids every day who are hungry or aren’t dressed properly for the weather.
Pretty soon Christmas will be over, but families in need can still use help. Contact your local school or church to learn more.
December 28th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
I recently bought a small gift card and handed it off to an employee on my way out of the store. All I said was Merry Christmas. Amazing how good it felt. Give it a try sometime, it does a body good