COUDERSPORT — Seven children and their families in the Coudersport School District will have a merrier Christmas this year, thanks to the efforts of Stephanie Rohrer and her sons Saylor, 6, and Bentley, 5, both in kindergarten. Together, they planned and organized a community service project the boys named “Operation Bright Christmas.”
“Their goal was to make Christmas a little brighter for a few children and their families and spread kindness to other kids this holiday season,” explained Rohrer. “One child in grades kindergarten through sixth grade will be selected.”
Rohrer explained the children selected for the project will have “displayed superior work ethic and great achievements and progress during the first part of the school year.”
The child chosen from the kindergarten class and their family will receive everything needed for a superhero party, including free pizza, wings and soda, compliments of Fox’s Pizza in Coudersport and a large fruit and vegetable tray, compliments of Shop-n-Save in Coudersport.
“The family will have everything needed to celebrate the success of their kindergarten superhero and the great achievements they’ve accomplished during the first part of the school year,” said Rohrer.
The child chosen from first grade will receive a date night out in Coudersport with their family, including a complimentary gift card for milkshakes at Cream and Sugar Creamery in Coudersport, as well as complimentary tickets to see a movie at the Coudersport Movie Theater.
The child chosen from second grade will receive a day of fun in Olean N.Y., complete with complimentary admission to the Olean YMCA for an afternoon of swimming and rock wall climbing, in addition to a gift card for a family meal, courtesy of Friendly’s Family Restaurant and gas card donated by Kwik Fill.
The children chosen for third and fourth grade will also receive a field trip to Olean, N.Y., with ice skating passes donated by the City of Olean Recreation Department and a gas card from Kwik Fill. The third grade family will receive a gift card for a free meal, compliments of Perkins Family Restaurant, while the fourth grade family will receive the same from Beef ‘n’ Barrel.
The child chosen from fifth grade will be treated for a family night out at Good Times of Olean for bowling, food and fun, in addition to a gas card, compliments of Kwik Fill.
Lastly, the child chosen from the sixth grade will receive complimentary roller skating passes to Funland Skate Center in Wellsville, N.Y., in addition to a gift card to eat at L’italia Restaurant, as well as a gift card from Kwik Fill.
Each child will also receive several presents filled with puzzles, crafts, board games, shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste and other stocking stuffer items, donated by Dollar General and Rite Aid, in addition to a complementary haircut from Hair to Please, Elaine’s Casual Cuts or Classic Design Hair Styling and an autographed hockey puck signed by a Buffalo Sabres hockey player.
If that’s not enough to make their Christmas brighter, Saylor and Bentley also bought three gifts for each child with their own hard-earned money from doing chores around the house.
“It’s amazing what kids can accomplish with amazing work ethic, opportunity and perseverance,” Rohrer said. “Saylor and Bentley are using the impact of kindness that can help change the world.”
Rohrer said Saylor and Bentley’s goal is to raise $10,000 for next years project.
If you’d like to donate to Saylor and Bentley’s next community service project, email superstarkids@outlook.com for more information.
