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Harbor View Field Trip Spreads Holiday Spirit
posted: December 16th, 2009 02:11 pm |
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About 60 Harbor View Elementary students combined a Wednesday morning field trip with a lesson on the spirit of giving — along with a mini retirement party for a longtime Newport Beach fire captain.
The students each had earned money and bought toys to donate to the Newport Beach Fire Department’s Spark of Love toy drive, which runs through Dec. 24. On Wednesday, the students hiked to the Marigold Avenue fire station to drop off the toys.
“I was proud,” said Emma Heilman, a first-grader who said she did chores to earn money to buy a Barbie.
“I did dishes, I cleaned my room,” said Van Frelund, another first-grader. “I got a making crystal set.”
Ella Green, also in first grade, said it felt good to know they were helping other children. “I’m proud,” she said.
The donations are badly needed this year, fire department officials told the students.
“Last year at this time, the warehouse was full,” Capt. Jerry Strom told the students. “This year, it’s not. I have to give a special thanks for your help. Your toys are so important.”
Adding to the coffers were more than 200 Cahootie toys. Blythe Jack, the chief executive officer of the local toy company, matched each Harbor View student’s donation with one of the company’s versions of the old-fashione fortune-telling toy.
“As soon as we took them to the warehouse, they said, ‘On that truck!’ and they shipped out,” said Jennifer Schulz, a fire department spokeswoman. “This year, people are tapped. These donations help so much.”
The students and firefighters then shared a pizza lunch, and the firefighters gave some safety tips. A few students also took a short tour of the station.
Harbor View students have been visiting the fire station with toy donations for six or seven years, said teacher Patti Clark. Clark is Strom’s sister-in-law, and she told the students they could call the captain “Uncle Jerry.”
The students then helped Strom celebrate his retirement. After 44 years, his last day with the department will be tomorrow.
Clark said Strom’s departure wouldn’t stop her from continuing the tradition of taking students and toys to the station each December. “He’ll be back next year,” she predicted — and Strom agreed. “I wouldn’t miss it,” he said.
