The stockings were stuffed

by the students with care,

In hopes that sick children

could celebrate there.

Just like Santa’s Elves busy at work, the Middle School Students in Mrs. Jodi Maurici’s Health Education classes engaged in a stocking-stuffing project called “Pay It Forward With Jackie.” According to the website, Jackie is a girl who, at age 3 in 2006, was diagnosed with cancer on Christmas Eve. After battling cancer twice in her young life, she started this nonprofit organization to get stockings to children staying in local hospitals during the holidays.

The idea to find a charity originated when Mrs. Maurici posed the question to her classes. “If I gave you $10,000, but you had to donate it to your favorite charity, what would that be?” The majority of her students agreed that gifts for children in hospitals during the holidays would be their top charity.

Their sentiments touched a personal chord with Mrs. Maurici, because her own daughter’s 8-year-old friend was battling brain cancer. The holidays in a hospital can be a challenge to anyone’s spirit.

Mrs. Maurici researched such charities and decided “Pay It Forward With Jackie” and its stocking-stuffing campaign was the best match. Items recommended for collection included: large-sized Christmas Stockings, 24 packs of crayons, packs of washable markers, coloring books, candy canes, microwave popcorn, chocolate bars, chewing gum, decks of cards, yo-yos, Play-doh, movie DVDs and music CDs

“So far, the response has been incredible!” Mrs. Maurici exclaimed. “We are hoping to fill more than 50 stockings for local hospitals.”