Mishawaka youngster filled with Christmas spirit

Article published Dec 23, 2010
Mishawaka youngster filled with Christmas spirit

Justin Sergio, 10, donated his $50 gift card to the Boys and Girls Club. Tribune Photo/SANTIAGO FLORES

By ERICA MORRISON Tribune Staff Writer
MISHAWAKA — While most children are on their best behavior these days, hoping Santa will bring them everything they wish for, 11-year-old Justin Sergio is wrapped up in the spirit of giving.

Justin, a fifth-grader at Battell Elementary School, received one of his Christmas gifts early and decided to re-gift.

He gave his $50 gift card to the Boys & Girls Club at Liberty Elementary School after he heard the club was in jeopardy of closing next school year because of a lack of funding.

"I decided to send money to the club for support," he said.

Justin has been attending the club since he was in kindergarten.

"I care about Club," he said bashfully, "and I want it to stay open."

Justin's mother, Nicole Voorde, said she tries to teach her children the importance of giving, and says she was very proud of her son's decision.

When she asked him why he wanted to give his gift card to the club, he said, "Because Miss Tammy (club instructor) needs it more than I do."

"That made me cry," Voorde said.

Tammy Slaven, director of Mishawaka operations for the Boys & Girls Clubs and director of the Battell club, said Justin's donation "took me very much by surprise."

Slaven was describing her duties to the students one day when Liberty's financial woes came up in conversation.

She said Boys & Girls Clubs often encourage the kids to "pay it forward." After Justin's gesture, other students started giving in other ways.

An e-mail from the Boys & Girls Clubs about Justin's donation prompted Dynamic Mechanical Services in Mishawaka to donate $100 to the Liberty club and to replace Justin's gift card.

"We've always supported the Boys & Girls Club," Deb McCallister, accounting manager at Dynamic, said. "It's one of the charities that we hold close to the heart."

After receiving the new gift card, Voorde said, Justin offered to donate that one, too.

"He asked me three times, ‘Should I buy things for Club?' " Voorde said.

But Slaven insisted that Justin keep the gift card for himself.

Justin attends the Battell club year-round, playing with friends, doing homework, and working on arts and craft projects after school. In the summer, the kids take field trips.

But what Justin enjoys most, he said, is playing for their flag football team.

"Club's a place where kids can play and have fun, and make new friends," Justin said.

Without the club, the aspiring video game designer admits, "I would go outside sometimes, but I would play video games."

Since funds at the club have become a little tight, Justin said, he has noticed some changes, such as no summer barbecue and fewer prizes.

He hopes that others will donate to the $70,000 needed by the Liberty club to remain open next year.

Staff writer Erica Morrison:
emorrison@sbtinfo.com
574-247-7756