The students at Laser School are very near to Terri Haueter’s heart.

Haueter, a business resource consultant with the Flathead Job Service, heard stories about the students at the alternative high school from her husband, Kevin Calnan, the principal at Laser.

She was impressed with the students who persisted in going to school, despite challenges in their lives that pressured them to drop out.

“The obstacles those kids surmount ... I don’t know if I could have stayed in school at their age if I had to face a lot of the hardships they do,” Haueter said.

But when she heard about Laser students giving to children during the holidays, despite the fact that many of them need money and care themselves, Haueter was moved to give something back to the school.

The Flathead Job Service always picks a Christmas charity, so Haueter suggested in 2008 that the office buy presents for mothers or expectant mothers at Laser.

The project was such a success last year that the office adopted “Laser babies” as its Christmas benefit again this year, Haueter said.

Job Service employees went shopping for baby clothes, blankets, diapers and other items Tuesday and presented the young mothers with their gifts on Thursday.

“It’s just slick,” Calnan said appreciatively of the Job Service’s generosity. “Some of these kids, whether they have babies or they’re going to have babies, right now they don’t have much.

“When we asked them what they needed, almost all of them said, ‘We need almost everything’ — everything from diapers to throws to bedding. ... You  name it, the kids need it.”

Even though these teens are getting ready to have kids themselves, they don’t forget the children in the community whose Christmases might be less than jolly. For several weeks, Laser School collects money for the Marine Corps charity Toys for Tots.

This year, Laser students raised about $300 for Toys for Tots, Calnan said. Eight students purchased the toys on Tuesday.

“Giving up some of their money is hard for them. They need the money, and here they’re giving their money” to the charity, Calnan said. “It makes Laser look pretty good, and it makes us feel good that work here” to see the students’ generosity.

The idea of those students giving when they had so little themselves spurred Haueter to action in 2008.

“Kevin told me that the kids on a daily basis pass around a jar and put money in, and then they go out and buy toys for tots,” she said. “So many people in our community have lots, and that’s it. They have lots, and they don’t share it. ...

“That just really touched my heart. We can help give back a little, too. And who doesn’t love babies?”

Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com