Wednesday, December 21, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
29
Circle of Friends kids give back
By Jodi Schneider McNamee
Correspondent
Eight excited kids, men-
tored by Circle of Friends
volunteers, exemplified the
meaning of the season by
hunting for holiday gifts for
their families on Monday.
With gift certificates for
Habitat for Humanity Thrift
Store donated by ZoselHarper
Realtors, the kids were ready
to shop. The kids collected
items for grandparents, par-
ents, and siblings and even
the family pet.
With a wide selection of
stuffed animals, home décor,
Christmas decorations, tools,
games, puzzles, clothing
and much more, there was
plenty to choose from for
every family member. And
the perfect end to the holiday
shopping extravaganza was
being able wrap their gifts
inside ZoselHarper Realtors
on Cascade Avenue. The
Circle of Friends mentors
were ready to assist their
little shoppers while every-
one sipped hot cocoa and ate
holiday cookies.
This is the second year
that ZoselHarper Realtors
has sponsored the holiday
gift certificates for Circle of
Friends children.
After each sale,
ZoselHarper Realtors donate
to any one of five nonprofit
organizations and one of
the nonprofits is Circle of
Friends.
“Last year it was the
best part of Christmas, see-
ing these little kids so filled
with excitement and joy that
they got to buy something
for their families,” said Carol
Zosel, Realtor and Circle of
Friends board member.
The idea of involving
the nonprofit organization
with an opportunity for the
children to give back was
hatched while Zosel and
close friend Jeanette Pilak,
Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show
director, were working out at
the gym.
“I had been telling
Jeanette how much I miss
kids since I’m a retired edu-
cator. And we both came
up with the idea of giving
the Circle of Friends kids a
Habitat certificate,” Zosel
said. “I grew up in a big
family with six siblings and
it was always a struggle to
buy something for a family
member.”
Kelly Davis Martin, asso-
ciate director for Circle of
Friends, was on hand to help
the enthusiastic group with
shopping and wrapping.
“Part of our program cen-
ters around a growth mindset
in building on children’s core
assets. And one of those core
assets is about being con-
nected and another is about
giving back,” Davis Martin
said. “Our mentors and our
children have expressed a
desire to be able to give back.
And this was an opportunity
for the children to give back
to their family.”
Nine-year-old Alex
paused for a minute from
wrapping loads of presents
to tell The Nugget what she
thought about being able to
buy gifts for her family.
“This is the time of year
when I can actually get pres-
ents for my family,” she said,
smiling. “It’s really neat to be
able to pick out which wrap-
ping paper to use and the
ribbon I want. I picked out a
present for my mom, dad, my
cousins, two brothers, grand-
mother, papa and my sister as
well!”
Volunteer mentor Victoria
Boucher was helping Jayden
pick out paper to wrap pres-
ents for his entire family.
“This has been a wonder-
ful experience, the kids feel
empowered that they can buy
gifts for family members,”
PHOTO BY JODI SCHNEIDER MCNAMEE
Circle of Friends Mentor Victoria Boucher assists a youngster with
wrapping the gifts he selected for loved ones.
Boucher said.
“The thing that is so amaz-
ing to me about the Circle
of Friends program is that
their mentors are volunteers.
These mentors give three
to five hours of their time a
week. And I think that any-
thing we can do to help sup-
port them and to give them
an opportunity with their kids
is worthwhile,” Zosel added.
With gratitude and joy,
we wish you a
Merry Christmas
and a Prosperous
New Year!
220 S. Pine St., Ste. 102 | 541-548-9180
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