Miss Sue waited until all the “Can Dos” got settled in their seats before she began to speak about her topic, giving. “Good Morning children, she said. “Thank you Miss Pat for allowing me to speak to the class this morning about a new program of the ‘Can Do” Street Community Center, Giving Thanks by Giving.”

Yundi and Wendy beamed with pride as their grandma, Miss Sue, continued to speak to the class. “Thanksgiving is coming and I want to invite you all to be a part of keeping the spirit of giving alive in Thanksgiving,” said Miss Sue.”We have a few weeks to work together on a few projects. I am going to tell you about they projects and then you can each decide what project is for you.

First, there is the clothing drive. We need to collect warm clothing such as coats, hats, gloves and such to give to those families who need warm clothes for the winter. We need men’s and women’s clothing as well as clothing for children and teens.

Second, there is the food drive. We want to stock the food pantry in town with canned goods and boxed foods like pasta and rice for those who need food for their families. We need lots of families giving what they can.

Third, there is the school supplies drive. We want to be able to help out families that can’t afford school supplies by giving their children what they need for the school year.

Willie raised his hand and Miss Sue called on him. “Miss Sue why do people need all these things?” Miss Sue smiled and answered, “That is a good question, Willie. Some families have been having hard times and need a little help to get through until things get better for them.  Some dads and moms, through no fault of their own, have lost their jobs. In other families, a dad or mom has been sick and unable to work, so there isn’t much money to buy what the families need.”

The class was quiet for a few minutes, then Hector raised his hand and said, “I’ve got lots of cousins, uncles and aunts. I will ask them to go through their closets and donate anything they haven’t worn in a year and don’t think they will be needing. I’ll ask my mom and dad and grandparents too.” A few of the “Can Dos” also signed up along with Hector.

Annie volunteered to collect food from family and neighbors for the food pantry. A couple of the other kids in the class did too.

The “Can Do” Kids Cooking Club volunteered to holding a bake sale at the Community Center and said they would be giving all that they raise to buy school supplies.

Soon everyone in the class was signed up for one of the three drives as their way of giving thanks at Thanksgiving.

What about you? Is there a way you can practice giving at Thanksgiving time?