By David A. Sargent,Special to the Sun Journal

AUBURN – If they’re not Christmas elves, they’re the next best thing.

A bunch of little people, most of them 3 to 4 feet tall, unexpectedly sweetened the gift-giving efforts of older people at Roak Block Development this week.

When 17 second-graders at Holy Cross School in Lewiston learned that dozens of people at the Roak retirement apartments were collecting gifts for a needy local family, they decided that was where they wanted their own donations to go.

Much to the surprise of the Roak Block gift-givers, the younger generation across the river added about $40 and an assortment of toys to the collection begun by their elders.

Organizers said it was the first time in many years, and maybe the first time ever, that Roak Block residents had undertaken a Christmas gift-giving campaign.

“We’ve done all this in just the past nine days,” said Irene Eaton, one of several people who were informal coordinators of the project. “We’re already planning for next year.”

Bea St. Pierre, another coordinator, said, “We all felt like teenagers this week. We got every toy the family asked for.”

Marjorie Stewart, another Roak Block resident, arranged for Salvation Army assistance in locating a worthy family to receive the gifts.

Some residents gave food and clothes, while others donated toys or cash. The donations, which represent many of the facility’s 74 apartments, added up to more than $200. A couple of residents took on the toy-buying duties for the selected family’s two children who are 3 and 4 years old. Dora the Explorer dolls and Spiderman items topped the list.

Residents held a gift-wrapping party a few days ago. Their work filled large boxes placed under a tree in the Roak Block lobby.

Two of the Holy Cross School students visited the Roak Block on Thursday afternoon to see the result of the intergenerational effort.

Austin Roy, 8, said a toy truck was his gift for the family. Tamia Wilson, 7, said she saw Dora dolls and Bob the Builder toys among the donations.

Michelle Kyllonen, teacher of the Holy Cross School second graders, told the youngsters about the project across the river.

“They were all for adding their gifts to that project,” she said.

Kyllonen kept the youngsters’ additional donations a secret until they could be brought to the Roak Block earlier this week.

In addition to the toys, donations were sufficient to make up a food box for an elderly lady known to the residents who is in need of some assistance.

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