HAYDEN — The Christmas spirit was alive and well Wednesday morning as Lake City High School seniors took over the Hayden Walmart for a holiday adventure in financial literacy and philanthropy.

Bedecked in sparkling Santa hats, elf apparel and one student in an inflatable corgi costume, the students made their shopping lists and checked them twice as they spread holiday cheer throughout the store.

"I didn't really have anything Christmassy, so this is the only thing I could find," Landon Burt said, his smiling face peering out from the oversized inflatable dog costume. "I just had it in my closet forever. I never thought to open it but now I was like, 'Today's perfect.'"

Keeping to a budget, the benevolent bunch gathered toys and presents that will be donated to Union Gospel Mission and Family Promise of North Idaho to help make the holidays merrier for local families in need.

Leading up to the annual Give Back Project, Matt Ruchti's economics students raised an all-time best of $12,540 through bake sales and other fundraising activities. About $500 of the money was change the students dug out of their vehicles.

"They were very creative this year," Ruchti said.

This year's amount surpassed last year's by more than $2,000.

"Definitely a big milestone for this group," Landon said.

The students were tasked with using those funds to find specific gift items.

"We get each family, and each group takes care of that family, whether it's a 5-year-old boy to a 14-year-old girl, we take care of it all," Landon said. "It's absolutely amazing. I feel very festive, I feel like that give back of Christmas, we really achieved that. I feel like we're really doing a lot and we're really making a difference."

Lake City seniors Harman Gaby and Brycen Duboise scoped out a Zuru X-Shot Insanity toy gun as their cart was filled with other items such as a comforter set and a nail art kit.

"It's going great," Brycen said. "We're under our profit margin and we've got a ton of stuff."

Mars Hayes and Tressa Meech teamed up for the shopping excursion. Mars said giving back in this way truly matters to her because she was once one of the children who received gifts through a similar community program.

"It's really nice to be on the other side of it," she said.

"I just think it's really nice," Tressa said. "It's a cool thing to be a part of."

This is the fourth year Ruchti's students took a festive field trip to Walmart to apply their budgetary knowledge to community service through the Give Back Project.

He said the students do great every year, but this year the students were especially dedicated to making the magic happen.

"It's a testament to the Lake City kids and the community," he said. "Every year we've challenged them, the next senior class has stepped up to the challenge, which is for their community, for kids and families." 

He said although some may have preconceived notions about this generation, he knows firsthand how these young people embrace the opportunity to help others and run with it.

"I think we're going to be all right," he said.

    Lake City High School seniors Tressa Meech, left, and Mars Hayes share a lighthearted moment Wednesday morning as they team up to go holiday shopping for local families as part of the annual Give Back Project.

    Lake City High School senior Landon Burt scurries through the Hayden Walmart during a holiday shopping trip Wednesday morning as part of the annual Give Back Project.
  

  

    Lake City High seniors Brycen Duboise, left, and Harman Gaby double-check their holiday shopping list Wednesday morning.