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Atlanta kids work all year for points to 'buy' gifts for loved ones

More than 500 students at Toomer Elementary School, Southeast Atlanta learn valuable lessons shopping for family members as part of Project Gift.

ATLANTA -- A unique volunteer program at Toomer Elementary School in Southeast Atlanta is teaching more than 500 young students valuable life lessons.

Now in its ninth year, PROJECT GIFT, moved from Whitefoord Elementary to Toomer Elementary, when Whitefoord closed its doors earlier this year.

“Let’s go shopping and are your excited?” asked one volunteer shopper, adding, “You excited? Here’s your bag; let’s go!”

And for the students at Toomer Elementary that is how today got underway.

PROJECT GIFT.

A chance to pick out holiday gifts from hundreds of choices.

Each youngster with a volunteer shopper, with more than 100 volunteers taking part.

“Who are you buying things for today?” 11Alive asked one youngster.

“My mom, my dad and my twin sister."

"Are you going to surprise them?"

"Yes.”

But this shopping spree has a unique twist.

Students earn points throughout the year by coming to school on time, doing their homework and helping others. On this special day they use the points to shop for gifts.

But then another twist.

They can only pick gifts for family members living with them---nothing for themselves.

And before the gifts head home in huge IKEA bags, they are gift wrapped with high-end wrapping donated by Uline.

At Toomer, principal Ashley Adamo said, it is a special day.

“They are excited that they are able to purchase their own gifts for their family members, and walking in and seeing how many gifts were available for them to choose and having their own personal shopper. That was a complete surprise for them,” she said.

And the students enjoyed every minute.

“I am shopping for my mom and my brother,” said one student, while another said he was shopping for his mom and dad.

11Alive asked if he was having a good time.

“Yes, very cool,” he said, adding, “I think I want to buy all of it.”

A sentiment widely shared by everyone as they looked around what resembled a high-end metro Atlanta department store.

*PROJECT GIFT in-kind partners include the Arby's Foundation, Home Depor, IKEA, and Uline.

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