WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Shelves at Jackson Primary School in Williamsport are filled with more than 1,000 cans of food collected by the students.
"We are kindergarten through third grade, and all of the students were asked to try and bring in one or two cans," said Teri Snook, Jackson Primary School secretary.
The elementary school holds a canned food drive for the Salvation Army of Williamsport each year.
On this day, the school's community and culture club boxed up the cans. The students have been collecting the cans for a few weeks.
"When you bring in cans, you get to put your name on a stocking, and you get to hang it up in the hallway," said third grader Yarah Jordan.
The stockings hang on a fireplace wall in the hallway.
"It's great. All around the school, as the kids have seen the fireplace fill up with stockings, they've brought more and more cans in, so it's been awesome. It's great to teach the kids to teach others in the community," Snook said.
The cans will go to the Salvation Army of Williamsport's food pantry, which is used year-round. The organization's holiday food distribution is this week, and a lot of food was taken from that pantry.
"Our shelves are bare, really, in our pantry, so this wonderful donation from the school will help us replenish our pantry in the new year," said Laura Templeton, Salvation Army of Williamsport.
The students say they are happy to help.
"I thought it was really a good idea to do it because you could help people in need, and so I was right on the edge, and I need to bring in cans," said third grader Adelynn Phillips.
"Their pride in this and their sense of giving, you can feel the joy in this whole effort," Templeton added. "They all want to be part of it."