Making sure those at-risk have holiday cheer

For the past nine years, Cheney School District art teacher Sherie Syrie has spearheaded an effort to make sure at-risk students have an opportunity to do some Christmas shopping for their families - and even for themselves.

The Holiday Store takes place the Thursday before Christmas in whatever school Syrie is assigned to, and enables low-income familiy students selected to take part the chance to come to the library and use distributed "Santa Bucks" to purchase about $40 in gifts. The money comes from local organizations, who also send members to volunteer to help out at the store.

"For the...