In the spirit of giving, several local schools have been part of food and toy drives for families and children in need.
Tiffin Middle School's Student Council and Builders Club have been participating in several fundraising activities this holiday season.
The Builders Club is a student organization sponsored through Kiwanis. It is a leadership group that puts together several service projects throughout the year. The students and their advisor, Melissa Mellott, have put together several events. For example, a schoolwide dodge-ball tournament, Dodge the Hurricane, raised money for Hurricane Sandy victims.
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Tiffin City Schools employees (from left) Don Burner and Walt Szablewski and Salvation Army volunteer Tony Postell unload hams and turkeys donated to The Salvation Army.
Mellott said the event raised more than $260 for the American Red Cross.
"I love the take-charge atmosphere and it is a fun way to help the community," said seventh-grader Zach Hoy.
Tuesday evening, the group helped at The Salvation Army sorting donated toys for local families for Christmas.
"This is my first year, and I love being a part of something," said sixth-grader Kaia Treadway. "I love the Kiwanis Manor and helping people everywhere."
The students also participated in Operation Evergreen, where students put together care packages for soldiers overseas unable to make it home for Christmas.
Student Council also sponsored a canned food drive that collected 1,086 cans last year. This year, the drive brought in 894 cans and other non-perishable goods.
Students also went out and bought Christmas gifts for six needy students.
"Student Council helps provide support for middle school students and families in a time of need," said Jenna McKillip, Student Council advisor.
Tiffin City Schools also recently conducted its annual holiday giving project, raising $1,857. They were able to purchase 64 turkeys and 118 hams to donate to The Salvation Army for holiday food baskets.
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Other schools participating in holiday projects:
Washington Elementary kindergarten and first-grade students collected two large boxes with about 100 items.
As part of their Boy Scouts project, students Nathan, Noah and Samuel Faber organized "Socks for Seniors," where students donated socks to be distributed to the local nursing homes.
Krout Elementary second- and third-grade students collected 298 canned and non-perishable food items as part of the school's Ohio State-Michigan spirit day.
Food items collected were donated to The Salvation Army and FISH food pantry.
Krout students also participated in the Holiday Giving Tree, where students decorated a Christmas tree with new hats, mittens, gloves and scarves and collected canned and non-perishable food
items to go to The Salvation Army.
Noble Elementary students in K-Kids, an elementary service organization sponsored by Kiwanis Club, hosted a canned food drive to benefit The Salvation Army. Items collected filled 15 paper boxes.
Sue Lewis of Camp Glen taught students in Ashley Acihholz's fifth-grade gifted class about the spirit of giving. Students organized the purchasing and making of 11 baskets to go to Washington Elementary students and their families.
Students put together supplies and food from the My Plate Nutrition guide and board and card games.
Hopewell-Loudon students had a Veterans Day Drive to get care packages to troops at Camp Clark, Afghanistan. The soldiers received the last 62 boxes Thanksgiving Day.
Clyde Elementary School's student council had a food drive to benefit Clyde Food Pantry.
A total of 634 items were donated.
Clyde McPherson Elementary School had a toy drive titled "Caring for Clyde Kids" at McPherson Middle School.
Sixth- through eighth-grade students competed to see which class donated the most toys to the program.
