By Becca Wise

When it gets to be that time of year, when the snow starts to fall and vacation draws near, everyone starts to get the holiday cheer, no matter how Scrooge-like they appear.

One person who tends to get the most holiday spirit in our school is Mr. Scott Vining. Mr. Vining runs a charity drive every December called “Stockings for Kids” where any person can fill up a stocking with toys and give that stocking to an underprivileged child for Christmas.

Mr. Vining got the idea for Stockings For Kids five years ago when he was listening to the radio station B101. B101 had been doing Stockings For Kids for quite some time. “I just thought it would be a good idea to do it at a school,” said Mr. Vining.

All the stockings that are filled go to underprivileged families in the Phoenixville area, since there are many unfortunate people here. “There’s a lot of kids in our area who, unfortunately, on Christmas morning won’t receive anything…You know the old saying ‘It’s better to give then to receive.’ ” said Mr. Vining

Mr. Vining managed to collect 455 stockings last year, and his goal for this year is to fill up five hundred stockings or more before Christmas rolls around. “If every student and teacher in the school fill up one stocking,” said Mr. Vining, “then we would have over one-thousand stockings to donate…It’s not un-realistic, considering we also involve other schools like the Middle School and Schuylkill.”

Along with Stockings For Kids, there is another charity drive taking place in Phoenixville High School: Toys for Tots. Any person interested can drop off unwrapped toys in the main office or room F1 by Monday, December 15th. Mrs. Groff runs Toys For Tots and any presents received will also go to underprivileged families.

Any student interested in helping the Stockings For Kids drive can stop by Mr. Vining’s room, F19, and pick up a stocking. Just think, you can give a kid something to be excited about when they wake up on Christmas morning. You’ll be able to feel the holiday joy.