Giving kids a chance

PERKINS TWP — Last week, local students played a role in an event bigger than themselves.On Monday, members of Briar Middle School's student council volunteered at Perkins Restaurant on Milan Road. Every year, the students help out with the restaurant's fundraiser for "Give Kids the World," a Florida non-profit organization that gives children with life-threatening illnesses and their families vacations at no cost. More than 150,000 children have visited the village since 1986, its website said.All meals were half-off with all proceeds donated to the charity.The volunteer effort is a tradition that has spanned almost two decades, said student council advisor Candiss Kessler."This volunteer opportunity for Briar Student Council started about 17 years ago when (Perkins Restaurant owner) Steve Schuster was in middle school. The Perkins Pancake House has been in the Schuster family for around 50 years. Mr. McDowell, a Perkins teacher, learned about Give Kids The World through the Pancake House and asked if the student council could help out with this volunteer opportunity," she said.That day, about 30 students washed dishes, cleaned tables, helped prepare food in the kitchen, among other tasks. Each student stayed for two hours.It was fitting to be volunteering on Martin Luther King Day, students said."It makes you feel good. People appreciate it," said Ireland Bennett, student council president.Generally, Briar Middle School student council members volunteer around the community in addition to planning in-school activities for their peers throughout the school year."By participating in these (volunteer) events, my hope is that the students will become compassionate for others and continue to be involved citizens in their community," Kessler said.Since the fundraiser's start, about $200,000 has been raised, according to Schuster."What a fulfilling feeling knowing the community supports Give Kids the World," he said. "I don't want people to think this isn't a local fundraiser because (the charity is based) in Florida. This helps local kids too."Local students like Alex Grant, a 2010 Perkins High School graduate and Perkins Township resident Emily Rogers, 12, benefitted from the charity and took vacations to its Florida resort, known as "the village." Four local families who also benefitted visited Monday, too.As a child, Grant had 27 surgeries before going to the GKTW village in 1999. As he helped at the restaurant Monday, he was impressed with the fundraiser's turnout."It's awesome — so many people came in to help. It's such a good cause," Grant said.Emily, who has a life-threatening form of epilepsy, made the trip down to the GKTW village with six family members almost two years ago.She loved everything about her week-long trip — from the unlimited ice cream to receiving gifts each day to an excursion to Disney World."It was fun," she said."I never had a better vacation. They treat you like royalty," added Sue Brienlye, Emily's grandmother.While eating breakfast with her family, Emily was visited by Mayor Clayton, the village's rabbit mascot. He gave Emily a hug, high-fives and wrote an encouraging message.Paired with the restaurant's fundraising efforts and , it made for a perfect day."There's such an outpouring of love here," said mother Cortney Rogers.Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com, follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood and on Facebook at Facebook.com/CaitliNearhoodWant to know more?• To learn more about "Give Kids the World," visit its website and on Facebook.Perkins eighth-graders Ireland Bennett, left, and Kamryn Ohly, right, clean off a table at Perkins Restaurant on Monday, Jan. 16, 2017.Sixth-graders Kennedy Schnittker, left, and Layla Giardina, center, scoop butter into cups while volunteering on Monday, Jan. 16, 2017, at Perkins Restaurant.Perkins sixth-grader Dominic Torbi washes a dish while volunteering at Perkins Restaurant on Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. Emily Rogers, 12, smiles for a photo while having breakfast at Perkins Restaurant on Monday, Jan. 16, 2017.