Giving Thanks

Yesterday, I had the chance to go photograph a yearly project my mom leads with her students in sending packages to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

 Earlier in the week, all the student council kids filled out the customs forms. This was one that was missed. Each package has to be exact or they won't make it there.

Admittedly, I photographed this one because I know the family of this soldier. There were two other names given this year, though. Every year, there are different soldiers from either other teachers, people we know, or students, who have a family member/friend serving. They are delivered to the one soldier, but there are enough boxes to distribute among the unit.

 

 

 

A Pretty efficient assembly line got started. There were four of five stamps on each one, to make up the right total. Besides collecting items from students, they were able to raise money to help out in the $1,700 dollars in stamps!!! 

 

Some kids were able to haul a ton...

 

Others... not so much.

 

Some of them found an easier way to get a lot to the right place.

 

In the end, everyone had their job!

 

This has been a project at Bob Miller Middle School for the last five years. My mom estimated that somewhere between 800 and 1000 soldiers have received a package like these over the years. Each of the three soldiers this year will get between 50-60 packages for them and their unit. 

I'm thankful to see people serving others. What a great bunch of students! I hope they learn to carry that service through the rest of their lives. A little bit of kindness definitely wouldn't hurt the world one bit!

And, of course, I'm thankful for our soldiers. I have several cousins, my little brother, and many friends who made the sacrifice to serve our country. Happy Thanksgiving to all our troops!