There's an old saying - 'tis better to give, than to receive - that is being put into practice by some Leelanau County residents who are adopting dozens of needy families to ensure a happy holiday later this month.

KAYLEIGH SCHNEIDER and Trisha Send (from left)
wrap packages for Suttons Bay School's Helping Hands
service group. The packages will be given to families
"adopted" for the holidays. Both are eating candy canes,
sold by the organization, to support holiday outreach
in the community.

County students and churches from throughout the peninsula have adopted families or organized collections for those less fortunate — all in spirit of the season.

Carol Tondreau of Maple City is spearheading an effort by Holy Rosary/St. Rita-St. Joseph parish to fill the needs of 29 families on the Leelanau peninsula.

“We’ve been doing it for 30 years,” said Tondreau of the effort by the Christian Service Committee. “We get the names from the Department of Human Services and the school. We provide holiday food baskets at Thanksgiving and Easter, but our major project is at Christmas.”

With assistance from county businesses, the Cedar/Maple City Lions Club and the parish communities’ gift tree, the energetic grandmother puts others first by assembling food baskets complete with the makings of a traditional holiday dinner and several days sustenance. She also coordinates efforts to ensure that each member of the family has something under the tree Christmas morning.

Why?

“It’s what we are called to do … to follow His star.”

The Glen Lake school community is working together to meet the needs of an increasing number of families. With support from staff members, Empire Eagles and CenturyTel, elementary counselor Mary Long said the school community has adopted 35 needy families for the holidays.

“It’s pretty hectic, but everything works out in the end,” she said, adding there appears to be much more need this year than year’s past. “The community response (to those in need) is tremendous. The Monday after Thanksgiving I had four phone calls before 9 a.m. from people wanting to know what they could do to help.”

Glen Lake’s Student Council adopts two families each year through referrals from the Women’s Resource Center and the state social service agency. Senior Heather Flowers and her sister Natalie were among those shopping the day after Thanksgiving.

“We were able to get all our shopping done (for the families) that day,” said Flowers, adding that she and Student Council advisor Judy Willey will deliver the care packages the week before holiday break. ”Depending on the situation, it can be a little awkward. It’s cool to be able to see where it’s going. It the mom is the only one at home, we give the gifts to her and she can give them to her children. It’s a neat thing to do.”

Student Council members also organized a giving tree, which has been in the school auditeria since mid-November. Paper ornaments hang on the tree with items needed for the Department of Human Services Christmas Store. Students select an ornament and are scheduled to return the items which will be put on the shelves of the store, which will be open next week at the VFW Hall in Lake Leelanau.

Further north on the west coast of the peninsula, each class of students at Leland Public School adopts a family.

“Elementary students earn money to donate by doing chores at home,” counselor Heather Lowe said. “It’s cute to see them bring in their Ziploc bags and hand over their change to the teachers. They’re proud to have earned the money on their own and realize how fortunate they are.”

As of Friday, Lowe said first and second graders were tops in raising money with more than $400. Money raised goes toward the purchase of gift certificates for the families. In addition, Leland’s Student Council adopts two families. Gifts and food baskets are scheduled to be delivered to the 11 adopted families on Dec. 18 and 19.

Students at Northport and Suttons Bay are also thinking of others this holiday season. Between the two schools, four families have been adopted. Students at both schools and Lake Leelanau St. Mary have also raised money or collected donated items for the Department of Human Services holiday store.

At Suttons Bay, volunteers are divided into three groups: shoppers, wrappers and delivers.

“Shopping is their favorite activity,” student assistance coordinator Sue Poirier-Chapman said.

A candy cane sale raises funds for the adoption project. Students are also gathering items for the county baby pantry.

“It helps them to see there’s a need year-round,” Poirier-Chapman said.