Portland Lutheran sponsors Christmas Giving

Athena and Taylor stopped in this evening to have a quick crepe and tea as a break to their Christmas shopping. These are two of my many favorite teens that come in from Portland Lutheran School. Portland Lutheran School is a very special private school within our community because although some private schools gain membership by being on a beautiful campus that is built and is surrounded by the higher social class only, PLS educates its students in the real world that surrounds all of us. PLS grows students who are civic minded and socially conscious along with all the benefits of a good education and additional curricula. It is evident in the students that stop by my cafe, their depth of community understanding goes beyond the typical teen. Many students from Portland Lutheran frequent the cafe, and support local efforts, though most of them travel from outside of the neighborhood.

So, what is so special about two teenagers Christmas shopping? Athena & Taylor are not shopping just for their family, but PLS students have a special mission to "sponsor" a child from the local MHCC Head Start Program. The girls were experiencing the good feelings that come from helping those who are less fortunate. The girls explained to me that each student who sponsors a child gets to pick out a "practical" and a "fun" gift for "their" child. The effort culminates in a Christmas Celebration which Portland Lutheran School is sponsoring next week. Athena explained they will wrap the gifts and then host their child at a Christmas party, where the children will be given their present by Santa. As the girls were finishing up, their phone rang with a request from a fellow student. A male student in the school is "clueless" on what to get his little kid and needed some advice. The girls took off to the rescue to help him in his Target shopping mania. Peace on earth - goodwill to all...as PLS does their part.