Reese brothers helping others during school closures

Mariah Reese couldn’t be more proud of her three sons during this time of self-isolation.

Their homeschooling leaves them plenty of time to fill, and inspired by the movie, The Christmas Project, “the boys have always wanted to drop gifts off at peoples’ homes, ‘just because,’” she says.

“We figured now was the perfect time for such a thing.” Vineridge student Sebastian Reese, and Royal Oak Community School students Saxon and Skielor Reese, have delivered 40 to 50 “cheer baskets” to neighbours, friends, and even strangers, their mom says. “We have taken a lot of suggestions from other people about people they know who could use a smile right about now.”

They also try to find their own ways to help strangers, she added.

“My middle child, Saxon, has a special family recipe for banana bread and another one for cookies. He has been hard at work in the kitchen making loaf after loaf — we even bought him a special mini loaf pan — and cookie sheet after cookie sheet to add to the baskets.”

They have run out of baked goods a few times, and have bought cookies and tarts to give out instead, she says.

“My youngest, Skielor, has been making cards that say ‘we hope you :) today.’ We try to personalize the bags where possible, with wine and chocolate or toys and games for kids, and all three have been dropping the bags at doors and trying to run away without being seen,” says Mariah.

“Saxon was running away from a house and his shoe fell off on a gravel driveway and he said, ‘it hurt so bad, but felt so good.’ I asked him what that meant and he said, ‘the rocks hurt my feet, but it felt so good to make people happy,’” she says.

“The boys have had such a good time with this, and I am so proud of how much time and love the boys have put into others’ happiness during such a hard time for so many people.”