As the 31 Brownstown Central Middle School Tribal Council members flurried through the aisles of Seymour Walmart, a woman shopping in the store became curious.

She asked one of the group’s advisers, Alicia McCrary, what the students were doing.

McCrary explained it was a part of their annual shopping trip where they use the money from fundraisers and donations to buy toys, clothing and other items for less-fortunate children in the Brownstown school district. The items are combined with canned goods collected by Brownstown Elementary School students and distributed by the Christmas Cheer committee.

The woman then handed McCrary $20 for the students to put toward their project.

McCrary thanked the woman for her good deed.

“It wasn’t like we asked for it. The kids were just going on about their business, and she totally volunteered,” McCrary said of the donation. “It’s definitely nice to just know that there are good people out there. I feel like we see so much negative attention about what things are going on in the world, but there are still great people in the world.”

This year, the Tribal Council had more than $5,000 to spend on 45 children.

The money was raised through special events this school year, including $600 from a School Spirit Dance and $800 from concessions and ticket sales at three basketball games.

They also had events where students paid $1 to participate. That included going to the gym during lunch, using their cellphones during Tribe or homeroom and participating in an ugly sweater contest.

Lee Ann Silence, the other Tribal Council adviser, said a lot of money also came from the students buying water, Capri Sun and Orange Leaf frozen yogurt.

Members of the community also donated to the cause, but Silence said most of the money raised came from the students’ efforts.

When all of the funds were gathered, it was time to head to Walmart and spend a couple of hours shopping for gifts. The students paired up and received a note card with the number of kids they were shopping for, their ages and the amount to spend.

Read the full story in Wednesday’s Tribune and online at tribtown.com.