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The students of Plains Elementary School learned a lesson and helped the community at the same time, said Meg Feist, the sixth grade teacher who came up with a fundraiser idea to buy gifts for the "Tree of Hearts" Sheriff's Relief Fund program.

Two hundred thirty elementary students from kindergarten to sixth grade raised $810.96 during the month of December to buy presents for the Tree of Hearts using two fundraising methods. For three Wednesdays, the students could pay one dollar to bring their favorite stuffed animal to school and for the last three Fridays they could pay one dollar to wear their favorite hat. The sixth grade students were responsible for collecting the money. Feist said this is the first time they've raised money for the Tree of Hearts.

Feist and sixth grade teacher Sandra Jirasko spent about three hours Saturday purchasing nearly 100 items from lip balm to steel water flasks from the Mangy Moose Mercantile, Mountain West Clothing, Plains Drug Store, and the Bean Bug Cafe. Feist said they made a point to buy everything in Plains to help local businesses. The money raised also paid for gift wrap, gift bags, bows, and tissue paper. Around $46 was spent on each child. "This is good practice for me," said 12-year-old Kiara Brown. "I have a lot of family to wrap for and I haven't even started," she said.

Eight boys and eight girls of the sixth grade wrapped the gifts Monday afternoon, which took just over an hour. Each recipient from 9-16 years old received a handful of items in their present. "I think we have an awesome sixth grade class," said Feist, who also felt they did a nice job of wrapping. Only one package had to be rewrapped because it had a wrong item inside, but Zoey Halden and Kylar Bannout carefully unwrapped it enough to get it out and quickly wrapped it again. "It's helping me get into the Christmas spirit," said Jackson Revier, 12, while he was trying to juggle hacky sacks.

The Sanders County Sheriff's Office has conducted the Tree of Hearts program for underprivileged children for about 20 years. Wooden tree displays were placed in businesses throughout the county. Red and green hearts hang on the tree. Each heart has a child's age and gender on it. Someone from the sheriff's office was to pick up the gifts.

"It's all about giving and it helps them learn about sharing and giving and doing something for the community," said Feist. "It's something for the whole community. It's a win-win," she added. Once the sixth-graders were done gift wrapping on Monday, they delivered bags of cookies to the other classes, along with thank-you cards for helping to raise the money.