Students at Norris Elementary plan to make their last year at the school slated to close, one of service to their community.
The Norris Peace Mentors, a group of fifth and sixth-grade students who plan yearly activities for the school, began their year of service last week by inviting fellow students to bring in food items for the Father Fred Foundation pantry.
"We are trying to give back to the community to help the community. The reward is just giving back,” said fifth-grader, Daniel Lock.
With more than 1,200 items to deliver to the food pantry, the students are already thinking of their next project.
"We want to do things from the heart,” said fifth-grader Kendra Mac, noting that the school will hold a sock drive and decorate a Christmas gift tree for the Goodwill Inn and Women's Resource Center.
"We have just amazing kids here with big hearts,” said Norris librarian Connie Boylan.
"They realize there are kids right here in our own community who may need something that we can give and they have stepped up to the task,” she said, noting that the students had turned down the opportunity to have an ice cream party for the class with the biggest contribution.
"This isn't about what we can get, it's about what we can give,” said sixth-grader Karylanne Moore.