KAUKAUNA (NBC 26) — On Thursday afternoon, the at Park Community Charter School gymnasium was filled with choruses of "Thank you, thank you, thank you," as students sang to local veterans.
“Gave me goosebumps," said Dennis Schmidt, Air Force veteran and Commander of VFW Post 3319.
As part of the Veterans Day celebration in Kaukauna, Parkside students did a coin drive and raised more than $800.00. At the assembly today, two fourth grade students presented a check to the Kaukauna VFW, and the money will be used to purchase Christmas gifts for needy veterans families through Christmas Angels. Before the presentation of the check, the school played a video of a song students recorded for the vets, while kids in the crowd sang along.
“It fit really well with our assembly today which was about kindness and supporting our community," said Ken Kortens, Principal of Park Community Charter School.
Every year, Park partners with the local VFW and American Legion on Veterans Day because the Ring of Honor park is located directly across from the school. But this year, the day was too cold, and the veterans moved the celebration indoors, and the children weren't able to make the trip to present the check on Veterans Day. The Service Club K Kids decided to incorporate the donation into today's school assembly, and invite the local vets for a special afternoon.
“This year, they just went over the top," said Schmidt. "We were just totally shocked.”
With help from the Park students as well as other local donation efforts, Christmas Angels will be wrapping around 6,000-7,000 gifts for local veterans and their families this holiday season.
"Some of these families don't have a lot of money, and their loved one may be deployed overseas and not even see them during the holidays," said Neal Borchert, Navy Veteran and Commander of American Legion Post 41. "So to have someone come in help enrich their their holiday season is a big deal to them and us."
The gift wrapping will take place on December 19th in New London. If you would like to volunteer to wrap gifts, you can reach out to Michael Weaver at skipatroldoc@gmail.com or 920-470-4674. You can also mail cash or checks for donations to the following address:
VFW Electric Cit yPost 3319
P.O. Box 163
Kaukauna, WI 54130
