NAMPA, Idaho — It's that time of year when Idahoans strive to spread holiday cheer and give back to those in need.
Mr. Heid, a teacher at Legacy Academy in Nampa, is living with multiple sclerosis. Students at the school are stepping up to make sure their beloved teacher gets the equipment he needs to regain his independence.
"He's just someone you feel like is a mentor to you," junior Emma Cooper said.
Students say he is the kind of person who likes to help whoever he can, and now it's Mr. Heid's turn to get the help.
"He struggles to get from place to place on his own," sophomore Ryan Christopherson said.
While living with multiple sclerosis, mobility is becoming an issue. Still, with the help of non-profit "Chair the Hope," these determined students are doing everything they can to get Mr. Heid a wheelchair accessible car, ramps, and other equipment to regain his independence.
"He's able to get himself to school, for example, but he needs some of the students to go out into the parking lot and help him into his wheelchair and the school in order for him to teach every day," director of Legacy Leadership Academy Russell Thacker said.
From bake sales and fundraisers to recruiting donations from local companies, the students are doing whatever they can to come up with the money.
"We have elementary students knocking on doors, middle school students approaching businesses and our high school students are leading the whole project," Thacker said.
With only 75 students in the whole school, 65-thousand dollars is a lofty goal, but they're almost there. It's all to improve the everyday life of the history teacher who's improving theirs.
"It feels really nice to be able to give back what he's given to us," Cooper said.
They're inching closer and closer to reaching that 65-thousand dollar goal and hope to get there by the end of the month.
Any extra money they may end up with will help "Chair the Hope" get wheelchairs for others in need around the world.
