When it comes to generosity, the students at Laura Bush Elementary School know what it takes to help others in a time of need as they recently held a “Giving to Others” food drive at their school.

“This type of event brings the students together as a school community, working together toward a common goal,” said the school’s counselor Suzanne Anderson. “We hope participating in this event helps the students feel good about themselves knowing they have worked to improve the lives of others.”

The students collected non-perishable items of food including canned goods, cereal, rice, pasta, baby food and more, and their collected items filled the school’s stage in the library. All the food will be donated to the Sagemont Church food pantry and will be distributed to needy families in the area.

Whitney Shook’s first grade class participated, and student Kali Williams said she was happy to help donate food to those in need.

“We have to help those who don’t have enough food to eat,” she said. “It is nice and friendly to give things to people who don’t have enough to eat.”

Shook said projects such as this one are important for students to participate in because they contribute to the development of the whole child.

“By asking students to have compassion for those who do not have as much as they do, we are increasing their emotional intelligence as well as empathy for others,” Shook said. “As an educator, I don’t just worry about how much a child knows academically. I want my students to grow up to be caring, compassionate adults.”

Anderson said participating in service projects such as a food drive help students learn how to be good citizens.

“If we want our children to live in a society of caring, altruistic citizens, parents and educators must work together to develop in our students traits of kindness, empathy, good manners, sharing and respect of self and others,” she said.

Laura Bush students often participate in community service projects as a part of the school’s Giving Tree Project. The Giving Tree Project encourages students and their families to give to others. When students help others, they receive a leaf with their name on it to be placed on the Giving Tree in the school’s main hallway.

“The families in our school have been incredibly generous when we do service projects for our community,” said Laura Bush’s principal Debbie Barrett. “We want to teach our students that we can work together to make a difference for others.”