Christmas just got a little brighter for some area moms and dads thanks to sixth grade students at Merino Elementary.

Every year Vonnie Sonnenberg’s class elects officers and as a group, they decide on service projects that they would like to do. In past years, they’ve assisted families through Family Resource Center’s Project Christmas Truck and last year they adopted the family of a classmate who was injured in a car accident and raised a “considerable amount of money” to donate to them.

“Every year it’s a little bit different and it’s just interesting to see where the kids take their leadership and where they branch out,” Sonnenberg said.

This year’s class chose to raise donations for Baby Bear Hugs and in about a week and a half, they were able to collect enough money to purchase 38 packages of baby wipes and 1,883 diapers. The students were surprised at just how much they were able to provide.

“Oh my gosh!” exclaimed the class when the total figures were announced upon presentation of the donation to the organization on Thursday.

Baby Bear Hugs changes the lives of “soon to be” parents and families with infants and toddlers in Eastern Colorado by providing parenting education, resources, and support at no cost to families. It is their goal that all children will become productive, happy adults who give back to their communities and that they will have every opportunity available to them to fulfill their potential, develop their potential, develop assets that empower them to resist failure, and have strong supportive adults in their lives.

Representatives from the organization were astounded when they learned how many wipes and diapers the students had collected to donate.

“That is so awesome you guys, a lot of our moms and dads really need the financial help with the free diapers and formula and baby wipes and it really helps them to give their kids additional clothing and a Christmas and birthdays, so this is so phenomenal what you guys have done,” an emotional Renda Kelsch, Logan County coordinator and parenting educator, told the class.

If you would like to find out more about Baby Bear Hugs, you can contact them at (970) 522-9411 or visit www.babybearhugs.com.

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