A group of students in Warren County Career Center’s welding programs checked the list and made sure there will be presents under the trees.

The welding students who volunteered – Nick Wolfer, Brookelynn Woods, Alexis Finch, Alex Leamon, Adrian Gesin, Gracelyn Freehling, Konnor Hoffman, Brodie McElhatten, Davonte Raffanello, CJ Wyman, Kendra Noe, Owen Schott, and Hailey Graham – made sure the five students on their list would find presents under the tree on Christmas morning.

The parents provided information to the school to help the secret Santas find appropriate gifts – boy or girl, grade, size, and interests.

The welding students then went out and picked up items that matched.

Photo submitted to Times Observer Warren County Career Center welding students who participated in a secret Santa program for students at Warren Area Elementary Center include (from left): Nick Wolfer, Brookelynn Woods, Alexis Finch, Warren Area Elementary Center Counselor Missy McNett, Welding Teacher Nate McNett, Alex Leamon, and Adrian Gesin.

“It feels really good,” Kendra Noe said. “We’re making sure kids get presents. I felt very much like Santa Claus.”

“It felt good to help out the kids at WAEC,” Brodie McElhatten said.

“It feels good knowing the kids will have some toys,” Davonte Raffanello said.

This year is the second in which volunteers from the welding program have helped with the list.

In fact, it was a student who had participated last year – CJ Wyman – that passed on the reminder to do so again, Welding Teacher Nate McNett said.

The effort was voluntary.

“I’m very proud that people wanted to get involved,” McNett said. “The list started off shorter and kept growing.”

He also thanked the parents of the welding students for their participation.

The students received thanks from several sources.

“Warren Area Elementary Center is very proud of the efforts to the teenagers here at the career center for their empathy and kindness towards children with economic difficulties,” WAEC Counselor Missy McNett said. “We appreciate everything the kids did here. Their generosity and kindness is greatly appreciated.”

WAEC’s principals sent a letter to the welding class. “We wanted to take a moment to thank you personally for your kindness and generosity in providing Christmas gifts for our WAEC students in need,” Assistant Principal Kylie Harris said. “Your maturity, selflessness, and depth of caring is highly commended. Thank you for being an example of hope and joy for our students and so many others throughout this holiday season.”

“We’re hoping that this is instilling values that they can continue as they mature into adults,” Missy McNett said.

The career center handled a small portion of the entire list.

Missy McNett said 93 WAEC families asked for assistance. In addition to the career center students, community organizations, churches, and families helped make sure all of those families will have some joy under the tree.