The 22 students in Jessica Rothstein’s sixth-grade class at Scarborough Middle School are throwing a party Thursday night for Scarborough’s nine members of the 133rd Engineer Battalion.
The party will conclude the students’ project, called “Operation Cupid,” which they started in December with health teacher Tom Griffin. As part of the health class the students are required to undertake a community service project.
“The kids unanimously decided they wanted to do something directly related to the soldiers in Iraq and their families,” said Mary Nablo, a parent volunteer who assisted in organizing the event.
The students raised $2,700 in cash and used the money to purchase items for care packages they sent to the soldiers. The packages included snacks and phone cards, and were sent out in time to reach Iraq for Valentine’s Day, which is how the project got its name.
Many local businesses contributed to the project, including Phone Cards Etc., which provided a discount rate for the phone cards, and Scarborough Downs, which contributed money to ship the items.
“It was a great project all the way from start to finish,” Nablo said. “This has been a fun project.”
The students have not had any contact with the soldiers since sending the packages and are eager to meet them. They figured using the remaining money from Project Cupid to host a party would be a nice way to honor the servicemen and thank them for their service.
“They have been away for so long we just wanted to welcome them home,” said student Sara Bunting.
Just as with the care packages, several local businesses are again throwing their support behind Operation Cupid. Scarborough Downs is allowing the students to use its banquet room along with its chef, while Lilley’s Limousine has offered to pick-up the nine soldiers and take them to the party and bring them back home.
The event also will feature music by the Wavelength Band, including patriotic songs chosen by the class. Magician Phil Smith will perform magic tricks. The soldiers also will be presented with gift packages from the students.
“The best part (of the party) will be meeting the people we sent things to,” said student Shannon Badgett.
Nearly every soldier invited agreed in advance to come, along with their families. Gov. John Baldacci also will attend the party.
Operation Cupid involved a lot of work from the students. They had to solicit businesses and individuals for donations, prepare the packages, and are now preparing for the party. But each student agreed the project was worth the effort.
“It’s definitely worth it because they made a big sacrifice for their families,” said student Vanessa Mathews.
The students said the entire project was a learning experience for them. They were able to understand how hard it is to get people to donate to a cause and also about the value of giving.
But most students said the biggest lesson they learned was about sacrifice. “We learned about how hard it is; how much they are sacrificing for us,” said student Meghan Giles.
The students of Jessica Rothstein’s sixth-grade class. In alphabetical order, they are: Shannon Badgett, Sarah Bunting, Samantha Clapp, Trevor Coffin, Katrina Foss, Morgan Ganem, Meghan Giles, Tom Hague, Brooke Hall (not pictured), Arthur Hamill, Kyle Kelley, Dylan LeComte, Vanessa Mathews, Rachael Millett, Alex Morales, Kyle Nablo, Emily O’Connor, Tony Perron, Collin Pierce, Meghan Quirk (not pictured), Chris Spaulding and Mike Woffard. Send questions/comments to the editors.
