Abby has warm idea for winter

Warm hats, mittens and scarves: Those are a few of Abby Giroux's favorite things.

She is collecting them to give away to homeless families because Christmas for Abby isn't about what she can get, but what she will be able to give others.

A seventh grader at St. Thomas the Apostle School in Delmar, she is a parishioner of St. Patrick's Church in Ravena.

Box of warmth

As Advent began, Abby placed a box in the vestibule of the church to collect items people might otherwise store at home or even throw away.

"We had a speaker come to our school last year to talk about what it is like to be homeless," she told The Evangelist. "I started to really think about homeless people and wondered how I would feel if I didn't have my own bedroom or my own home. I didn't like the way I felt."

She decided to do something about it.

Animal fair

Abby's first step, according to her mom, Sue Ann Giroux, pastoral associate for administration at St. Patrick's, was to take an inventory of all her stuffed animals.

"Abby had a large number of stuffed animals that she'd been collecting since she was little," Mrs. Giroux noted. "She said she wanted to donate them to a shelter for homeless kids. She loved every single one of them, and I think it was hard for her to give them away."

Abby said she had at least 70 stuffed animals, but giving them to homeless kids "made me feel really good -- to think that some kid somewhere would have his or her own stuffed animal to help them get through the really hard times."

More to come

That act of charity got her thinking about collecting warm clothing for the homeless.

"I thought about it during the year and decided that I would collect warm clothing, socks, scarves, mittens and hats -- anything that would help homeless kids keep warm this winter," Abby said.

She credited Terri McGraw, her religion teacher, with giving her the inspiration to start collecting.

"Mrs. McGraw taught us how awful it can be for some families in bad situations. She's really the one who inspired me to do this," Abby noted.

Personal touch

When the items come in, Abby checks them to be sure they are in wearable condition, then launders each one. When it is ready to give away, she wraps it.

Abby donated her stuffed animals to the Northeast Parent and Child Society in Schenectady; she plans on giving warm clothing for homeless kids to that shelter, as well as to several shelters in Albany County.

"I feel really bad for homeless kids," she explained. "They don't have their own home or any of the things that they can be comfortable with. If I can help parents who might be worrying about getting warm clothing for their kids, then they won't have to worry and maybe they can spend what money they do have on food for their family."

She added: "This is not just something that makes me feel good. I'm doing this because it's our responsibility [to help others]. If everyone would just help a little, I know the world would be a better place for everyone."

(12/23/04)