Burlington, Vermont - November 18, 2009
Emma Forgione and her little sister Michaela almost deafened their mother with their screams of joy last week, when they heard of a donation that would help them surpass their fundraising goal.
"That's so exciting!!" said Emma, 11.
We introduced you to the girls last week, telling you how they were canvassing their neighborhood collecting cans and emailing relatives to raise $450 for Operation Holiday Homecoming, the project to bus Vermont guardsmen and women home for Christmas from pre-deployment training in Indiana before they ship out to Afghanistan.
"And have them have warm hugs from their children and everyone," 9-year-old Michaela explained last week.
The union covering municipal workers in Central Vermont saw our story and came up with $500 to give the girls so they can help some soldiers get back.
"It just showed me the magnitude of these two girls-- how mature they are in thinking of other people," said Randy Edmunds of AFSCME local.
The union's gift may have beaten the girls' goal but the Forgiones aren't slowing down. Their school principal credits their dedication to the Sisters of Mercy, the nuns who sponsor the Mater Christi School.
"They are fabulous role models for all of us, about how when we're fortunate enough to give back, that's what we do," Principal Bev Broomhall said. "It's part of our mission, our core values."
"What I've learned is you should always be nice. And you shouldn't be greedy," Emma said.
"I want to be a pediatrician. And I want to help children at St. Jude's Hospital," Michaela said.
The sisters know their donation is just a drop in the bucket toward the Guard's $200,000 fundraising goal. But along with other drops from all over the state, it'll add up to a flood of support.
Jack Thurston - WCAX News
Related Story:
Changes, More Support for Operation Holiday Homecoming
