Lessons in helping others

But when the class decided to organize a holiday food drive, they took over the school. For three weeks, they canvassed each class every day, using their math and graphing skills to track on big charts how many items each class gave. They sorted, counted and packed the food, and collected almost 1,500 items for the Coast Guard and local church food pantries.

"It was so much food. They were really stars in the school," Dykhouse said. "Instead of being the kids who need extra help, they were the ones who were giving the help."

Teachers are always looking for ways to integrate class lessons into real life activities. During the holiday season those lessons carry over into service projects that teach students about contributing to their community, and provide help for struggling families.

This year is proving to be especially challenging, and gratifying. The food banks need more food, and there are more families who many not have funds for holiday gifts. Teachers, school groups and parents are balancing the desire to help with the knowledge that more families may not be able to give.

Some of Virginia Millar's eighth grade math students at Sovereign Avenue School in Atlantic City had never heard of the Atlantic City Rescue Mission. Some had lived there. So when students decided to hold a bake sale to practice their math and business skills, the rescue mission was an easy choice as the recipient of the $200 proceeds that were matched by an area business. The students learned about the work of the mission, and some demonstrated their business savvy.

"I couldn't believe the sales skills of some of the students," Millar said. "They were reeling the customers in."

The Work Readiness Class at Mainland Regional High School in Linwood has collected, packed and shipped boxes of personal items for troops overseas. They started last year, sending items to the son of a teacher in the Army, and this year will send to the unit of a former student serving in Afghanistan.

Students created the fliers, distributed donation boxes in the school and community, and then prepared the items for shipping.

"They definitely get more into the lessons when it's a project they are doing," program director Deana Smith said. "It gives them more control and input, and also puts them out into the community. "

"It's not just about putting in the hours," eighth grader Kimberly Yap said. "Everyone wants to do it."

Parents play a large role in many of the projects. Amber Umphlett and Nancy Samson of Egg Harbor Township are heading up the Every Hand Together project at Fernwood and Alder Avenue middle schools in Egg Harbor Township to collect toys for the Atlantic County Women's Shelter and 10 families in the district through the school Renaissance program, coordinated by teachers Krista Kraybill, Donna Kelusak and Donna Gaudio.

"We started pitching it in October," Umphlett said of the project. She got refrigerator boxes from Art Handler Appliance/TV Center in Pleasantville, covered them in bright wrapping paper, and placed them in the school lobby for the toy drive. Students have also done food drives and a mitten and hat drive.

"We've really seen how more families have been hit," Umphlett said. "There are so many people who need things."

Umphlett sees the time she spends as setting an example for all children they will hopefully pass along as they get older.