While used to singing in unison with each other, students with the Dowagiac Union High School choir got on the same sheet of music with a few new faces Monday.

Around eight choir members joined four elementary students on an excursion among the aisles of the local Shopko department store that evening, helping the children play Santa for the day. Normally sharing only their voices with the world, that night they lent their eyes and hands to the young shoppers, assisting them in picking out gifts for their parents and siblings for Christmas.

The best part — the children did not have to worry about their folks picking up the bill, as the Dowagiac Fine Arts Boosters program donated the funds to make the Christmas shop-a-than possible.

“We do not tell the kids this before they start, but once they are done shopping for their family we encourage them pick out something for themselves, too,” said Carol Novak, president of the boosters.

For the past five years, members of the Fine Arts Boosters have enlisted the help of high school choir students for its “Shop with a Choir Student” event. Similar to “Shop with a Cop,” the program allows children from families with financial difficulties to buy Christmas presents, as well as gives the choir students a chance to make a difference in the community.

Over the last several years, the boosters have helped more than 20 families through the event across all four of the district’s elementary schools, Novak said.

“Some of these kids could be future choir students,” Novak said. “As they get older, they may remember, ‘Hey, this high school student helped me out once.’”

That night, the children brought home $100 or more worth of gifts, with each item wrapped by the choir students.

Giving back to the community has been one of the main lessons the Fine Arts Boosters — whose members support the district’s choir students through scholarships and other initiatives — has tried to instill in the novice singers, Novak said.

On top of Shop with a Choir Student, the members have organized several other community service projects with the students in past years, including giving out food baskets to local families before Thanksgiving. These efforts are a way for the students to help thank the community for their support, as it is through local donations the boosters can provide college and fine art program scholarships to choir members throughout the year, Novak said.

“You cannot have your hands out all the time,” said Michele Schaus, vice president of the boosters. “You need to participate and give back, too.”