Paying it Forward

12/7/2012 (Updated 11:12:29 PM)

(Source: Fox 40 Staff)

Instead of giving their teachers gifts this year, local elementary students are serving the community.

Today fifth graders at Tioga Hills Elementary brought in personal care items including shampoo, toothpaste, lotions, mittens and hats to donate to the Apalachin Food Pantry.  The students assembled the boxes for the gifts, made the wrapping paper-- complete with personalized drawings and greetings.

"We have the opportunity to help people, to give, and to really understand the difference between a need and a want," said John Howell, 5th grade teacher.

"First Christmas was about getting presents and now it's all about giving," said 5th grader Megan Burdick.