The Joy of Giving

The Joy of Giving

DOCK 6th GRADER SOPHIA VELTRE WANTS EVERYONE TO KNOW HOW GOOD IT FEELS TO HELP OTHERS.

Remember that feeling when you opened a big present on Christmas morning? Or better yet—the feeling when you gave someone else a really great gift?

That’s the feeling Dock 6th grader Sophia Veltre had when she delivered a $1,200 donation she raised largely on her own to Keystone Opportunity Center.

“I learned how much I want to give, and I would love for others to follow that lead,” said Sophia. “I want people to feel what I got to feel when I went to drop off this big bag of money. It’s a really good feeling, like when you open up a big present, or give someone a big present for Christmas—only times ten!”

Sophia has always enjoyed helping others—a value she learned by being part of a big family. “I help my mom and dad out by watching my little brother, who just turned two,” she said. “They’re busy, so I babysit. I love to help out in the nursery at church, too.”

When it came time to develop a project for her Genius Hour class, Sophia knew she wanted to do something to help others. Her church, Franconia Mennonite, supports Keystone Opportunity Center, and her grandmother volunteers there, so it seemed like a good fit. She began doing some research about the homeless in our area, and was surprised to learn there are homeless people not that far from her church.

“I never knew that,” she said. “I didn’t realize there were people way less fortunate than me so close by.”

Dock 6th grader Sophia Veltre with the Powerpoint she created to tell the story of her fundraiser to help the homeless. Sophia single-handedly raised almost $1,200 for Keystone Opportunity Center.

Dock Mennonite Academy/Jay Gordon

Sixth grade student Sophia Veltre with the Powerpoint she made for her Genius Hour project. Her project was so successful that her teacher, Mrs. Laura Landes, asked her to put together a “howto” manual for fundraisers. Sophia is already busy planning and researching her next Genius Hour project: designing new toys for the children in Franconia’s nursery.

learning curriculum where students are encouraged to pursue learning about things they’re passionate about, and work at issues where they want to see change. “I wanted to help with the homeless, and I also love baking, so it was kind of a winwin,” she smiled.

Sophia organized a bake sale, promoted it from the pulpit at Franconia, and baked every muffin, cookie, and Rice Krispy treat that she sold (OK, her grandmom helped a little with the peanut butter cookies). There were no prices on the items; buyers could pay what they wanted. The sale, held after church on an October Sunday, netted nearly $1,200.

What was the big takeaway for her? “It really put into perspective how many people do not have basic things like a home or food to eat,” she said. “You don’t realize how blessed you are. I have so much, and I want to do my part to help others.”