BENNINGTON, Vt. — Every can and bottle helped bring joy to local families during this Season of Giving as the Southern Vermont College cross country and track & field squads teamed up with local businesses over the past week to help support the Pownal Elementary School’s Spirit of Sharing program.

Mountaineers went door-to-door last weekend in their search for can and bottle donations while also getting substantial assistance from Madison Brewing Company Pub & Restaurant in Bennington and Kevin’s Sports Pub & Restaurant in North Bennington. The empty beverage containers were then turned into cash, over $150 worth, by Foster’s Cannery in Bennington.

The teams were given three wish lists of sorts by the Spirit of Sharing program, and were then able to purchase and wrap each item for Pownal children with the money that resulted from the can and bottle collections.

“It was great to raise money to get presents for those children,” commented SVC senior captain Cameron Michael Curtiss (Milton, Vt.). “Getting something random can be nice, but when you unwrap a gift that you really wanted, it’s so much better. We hope that the children and their families have a wonderful holiday season.”

For over 20 years, Pownal El third grade teacher Kathy Brooks has been helping organize the Spirit of Sharing to support Pownal families. While presents need to be turned in by Monday and Tuesday of next week to be distributed on Wednesday and Thursday, there is still time to participate in the program. Anyone interested is asked to contact Kathy at 802-823-7333 or kbrooks@svsu.org by Friday, December 11 to obtain a wish list.

Southern Vermont head coach Kathleen Newton, who has personally been involved with Pownal’s Spirit of Sharing in the past, was delighted to see her teams get on board and run with the idea. “[The student-athletes] should appreciate what they have and realize that there are people in need who are less fortunate,” she noted.