Rio del Oro students embrace gift of giving

“It’s amazing how a community can come together to give.”

That was the reaction from Robyn Harland, school secretary at Rio del Oro Elementary, after students and parents came forward and donated so that local children could feel the spirit of the holidays this year.

What encompassed a month long giving campaign ended Dec. 16 when the local CHiP for Kids Toy Drive received a donation of more than 400 toys at the school’s annual winter program.

Dubbed the “Believe” campaign by the school, the goal was for the donation level to hit 200 toys.

“We exceeded our original goal in the first week and a half,” said Harland.

Backed by the CHP and KCRA Channel 3, the campaign provides toys for low-income families each year during Christmas.

With the economy playing a heavy role, many similar drives didn't meet their needs this year.

As a motivator for the students to participate, the school's art teacher created a Polar Express style train that sat outside of the school and continued to grow as more donations came in. Also, each student received a “Believe” ticket for each donated toy. The ticket was redeemable at the winter program for a cup of hot chocolate and a cookie.  

“The kids got very excited and it was a reminder that they had given,” said Harland.

The drive ended at the winter program, which was performed to a packed house of parents and students. Each class performed common holiday songs that brought the spirit alive even more. With bulbs flashing, the fifth-graders performed the song “Believe” from the movie "Polar Express" as they held up illuminated candles.

Following the performance, Jeff Larson, an officer in the Yuba-Sutter CHP office and coordinator of the local toy drive for CHiP for Kids, accepted the donation given by the school.

Harland says she hopes to continue the program next year and expand it to all three Plumas Lake schools in order to really make an impact in the county. She said she was grateful for all who participated and helped pull this drive off and extended a special thanks to the Marysville Starbucks for the contribution of cups that allowed them to pour warm cocoa for all.

“This was an overwhelming turnout and really shows what we can contribute when we all put our heads together,” she said.

PlumasLakeLife.com correspondent Michele Perrault can be reached at 763-3380 or e-mail her at mperrault@plumaslakelife.com