Peebles Police Chief Robert Music visits the third graders at Peebles Elementary along with another fellow who did a bit of giving a couple of weeks ago.

PES Gift Drive delivers yuletide cheer to local families –

By Patricia Beech –

It is better to give than to receive! Third grade students from  Peebles Elementary took that idea to heart this holiday season. Partnering with the Peebles Police Department and Sizo’s Beauty Salon, students in Ms. Monica Music and Ms. Liz Beckham’s third grade classes decided they would collect gifts for others.
“Normally, the kids exchange gifts,” said Ms. Music. “But, what they’ve been studying in Social Studies and the story they were reading in their reading books focused on the idea of giving and the  true meaning of the holidays, so we as a class decided to donate gifts instead of trading them.”
Mandy Knechtly, owner of Sizo’s Salon on Main Street in Peebles, says she became aware of the gift drive when her third-grade son Grady brought his class newsletter home. “I figured it would be a good way to reach people during the holidays,” said Knechtly. “We were really surprised at the number of people who came into the shop to donate during the drive.”
Police Chief Rob Music, who collected the donated gifts from the school and salon said the community donations dropped off at Sizo’s put the gift drive over the top. “This is a great community,” he said. “People here really look out for each other.”
Chief Music, along with Officer Brian Moore and Deputy Jason Daniels, delivered the gifts to 25 families in the Peebles area.
“What a warm feeling to drive up to a family’s house and to see the smiles on their faces” said Chief Music. “They don’t know why we’re there, they just see a police car. It’s so moving, I really enjoyed being a part of this program.”
“It was very humbling experience,” said Ms. Music.  “There are kids in my class who would fall into the category of needing things, but they still brought in little things, it made them feel really good to give to others.”

The employees of Sizo’s Beauty Salon, along with the Peebles Police Department, combined efforts in a gift drive involving the third grade students at Peebles Elementary. Pictured, from left, Amanda Higginbotham, Mandy Knechtly, Cheif Rob Music, Justin Davis, and Rosa Munoz.