The annual technology education holiday toy project at Belle Vernon Area High School took on a whole new meaning in the final days of production. A total of 135 wooden dump trucks handcrafted by students will be distributed to children in memory of Jared C. Giarrusso, 18, of Rostraver Township, a senior at the school who died in a car accident Dec. 14. Although students were at least a week behind on the project, technology education teacher Terry Evans suspended production for a day to give his students a chance to grieve. “I counselled probably 25 or 30 students just because of my medical background,” said Evans, who used to make a living as a paramedic prior to teaching. Upon returning from Giarrusso’s funeral Monday, Evans said he was encouraged by the good news about Thomas Evans, a passenger in the accident. “I found out that Tommy Evans, who is a student of mine and a leader in this project, is doing better,” Evans said. “I’m hoping that as unfortunate as that circumstance was and is for his family and friends that a lesson can be learned from it and students can become more aware of their actions.” According to police, Giarrusso and Thomas Evans were traveling north on Fells Church Road at a high rate of speed. The vehicle crested a hill and traveled about 254 feet before it veered onto the berm and headed up a small embankment near Comanche Drive. Police said the vehicle became airborne and hit a tree. Just a few days before the accident, Evans had given Tommy Evans, 16, who is not related to him, a stretch bracelet bearing a slogan that he picked up at the Medical Interest Club/SADD conference last month. The words “Take time to think” go around the elastic. “I put up a quote of the day every day for my kids to think about,” Evans said. “I put ‘Take time to think’ as my quote of the week, and I think it’s going to have to be the quote of the year because it covers everything. I took the opportunity Friday (Dec. 15) to talk to the students about that and how it impacts their lives.” Evans said he tries to provoke thought in his students. He poses questions like: Did you give your Mom a hug today• And have you thanked your parents lately for the clothes they provide you• Have you taken your health and home for granted? The entire project Evans’ classes have worked on so diligently applies as well. “Take the time to think about how it (the toy) is going to impact some child’s or children’s lives,” Evans said. The recipients of the toys this year will be preschool programs and early learning, early intervention programs supported by the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit. “It’s nice because actually at Belle Vernon here, we have the preschool program, so they’ll receive a few and we do have a speech and language therapist who will be given one or two for early intervention,” Evans said. Inside the bed of the toy trucks is a set of 12 alphabet building blocks with the standard alphabet as well as the American sign language symbol. The project’s sponsor is Smail Automotive of Greensburg, which provides money for the materials. Kelvin, a Farmingdale, N.Y., company, is donating wheels for the truck. “It’s not a Christmas gift even though it’s a Christmas project,” said Evans. And that works out because it buys the students a little more time. Hoping to complete construction by Dec. 15, students worked overtime, coming in on Saturdays and staying after school. By Tuesday, the project was still not complete. Evans enlisted the help of his brothers — Tony, who owns Evans Graphics in Monessen, and Tom, who owns Evans Painting in Coal Center. Tom donated all the paint, painting equipment and his expertise, while Tony loaned equipment and also volunteered his time and knowledge. “I brought in the troops,” said Evans, laughing. “The kids are doing an outstanding job. It’s just crunch time.” Although the mass production class began talking about the project on the very first day of school, it took time to develop a design and vote on it, weeks of research, development and modeling and gathering the right equipment. “Because it’s a student-designed project from the very beginning, I never know what to really expect and I don’t know what I’ll need, so it’s hard to prepare in advance,” Evans said. Junior Zack Shutterly, a project participant for the last two years, said the obstacles are educational. “It teaches responsibility and it helps you get prepared for what you’re going to have to face after high school,” Shutterly said. “It keeps you focused.” Making the toys for a good cause is the reward. “You feel so much better about yourself and it just makes Christmas so much better because you know you’re making Christmas a lot better for the people who need it,” Shutterly said. He said Evans is a good role model. “Without a doubt, he’s my favorite teacher and the easiest teacher to get along with,” Shutterly said. “What he’s done will always stick with me for the rest of my life.”

---

Copyright ©2026— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)

---