He jumped out of the family SUV like any energetic 7-year-old boy, but he quickly composed himself, walking with the assured stride of a determined soul, a tiny true soul. He shook hands with a shy confidence, looked up and said, “My name is Trent.”
Trent Arancio is on a mission to help kids. With the guidance of his family and his school, Rochester Memorial School, Trent is striving to make a difference in the lives of children whose material possessions are few.
This second grader was inspired to action while accompanying his grandmother as she dropped off items to the local charity Gifts to Give.
During that trip to Gifts to Give, located at 1 Titleist Drive, Acushnet, Trent observed many empty bins. Seeing the emptiness and discussing what that meant with his grandmother, he learned that some children might not have socks or undergarments, shoes, or coats because those bins held only air.
He was so moved that he told his family he wanted to collect clothes for the children.
“I just want to help kids,” said Arancio. “Make them happy so they won’t be lonely.”
Martha K. works at Gifts to Give, and she asked that her last name not be used because, “…its about the children not me…” Martha said Gifts to Give accepts gently-used clothing, primarily seeking children’s items.
She explained that they also accept adult clothing and household goods. Those items are sold in their thrift shop. The money from the shop is used to purchase new children’s clothing, as well as a variety of educational materials for the schools with which they have partnered. Martha said that used children’s items are screened for viability and then sent along to one of their many distribution centers, which serve communities from Brockton to Wareham.
At the present time, Gifts to Give desperately needs boys items – specifically, boys clothing from undergarments to outerwear in sizes 12 through 16. Those bins remain critically low.
As a volunteer of many years, Martha has seen it all when it comes to what people will pass along to a charity. She said people don’t understand that when they “dump off” bags of unwanted materials, those materials may be useless to Gifts to Give. “We are a completely volunteer organization. It is very disheartening when we open a box or a bag and it contains nothing we can use.” She said it becomes a wasted effort by those contributing their time and can even cost the nonprofit precious dollars because they end up having to dispose of unusable items. “We end up having to pay to haul trash away,” Martha shared.
She told me with pride that Gifts to Give brings youth together and teaches the importance of philanthropy and volunteerism while providing much needed basic items like warm winter coats to children living on the edge. The Gifts to Give website explains that goal as “…connecting youth to something bigger than themselves…”
Rochester Memorial School principal Derek Medeiros described Trent’s impact on the school’s partnership with Gives to Gift. “Originally one of our sixth grade teachers, Mrs. Forns, planned with the fifth and sixth grade student council to collect clothing.” Then Medeiros received an email from Trent’s father inquiring how Trent could move forward with his idea of helping to collect clothing for Gifts to Give. Medeiros said that Trent’s idea has now expanded the school’s program to involve all grades. The school will be a drop-off location until December 18 and students from all grades will assist.
But Trent has grander plans. He hopes to find a way to collect clothing for children year round. “I want to make the kids happy,” he says. Trent wants to become a police officer when he grows up. In the meantime, his desire to help seems on track with his professional aspirations, “I want the kids to have a good life.”
If you have clothing, toys, books, quality materials in good condition that can benefit Gifts to Give, you can drop them off at Rochester Memorial School, Rochester Police Department, Mattapoisett Police Department, or Old Rochester Regional Junior and Senior High Schools (books only). You may also visit Gifts to Give at www.giftstogive.org for more information. Trent thanks you.
By Marilou Newell
