9 Families will have Thanksgiving this year because of 20 3rd Graders

This year Kaitlyn's teacher had all of the kids in his class do a penny drive to raise money to buy turkey dinners for needy families. Starting on November 1st and going until November 19th they were to bring in pennies only. They did not want parents donating money. It was to come from the kids. We did end up helping Kaitlyn by placing pennies around the house and giving her free reign to "find" them to donate to this worth while cause. I was not expecting the amount of money they had collected though. As a class of 20 3rd graders they collected $125. At the end a few school donations to their cause including some inspired lunch ladies by their hard work they managed to have $200 to spend and the ability to feed 9 families! So they took a walking field trip to a local grocery store where all of this stuff was purchased. I was lucky enough to be able to join them for the walk. The kids were all so great going through the store too.

Our group arrived and ready to shop

We got two of the turkeys

Kaitlyn got the pumpkin pie

Lets not forget the apple pie

The whole class outside the store

I couldn't stay to help decorate the boxes as I had to go pick CJ up from school. So I left my camera behind with the teacher to take some shots of the kids decorating the boxes for the 9 families.
Kaitlyn's group

Kaitlyn and Mr. T

Kaitlyn

Kaitlyn got to do another box

The kids all had such a great time and I think were feeling really good about their efforts. Kaitlyn told the doctor all about it at the doctor's office yesterday. She called Kaitlyn a hero and said her picture needs to be up in the "hero" room. I'm very impressed with the whole group and love that Kaitlyn got to be a part of this by having this teacher this year. I couldn't have imagined a more perfect way for her first year at a new school to go and am so happy she's getting these experiences. There were times she wasn't sure she wanted to give up her pennies, but it gave us a chance to talk about how important it is to help those in need. After thinking about it she decided that it was better to help out and share her pennies. I'm very proud of her and all of those 3rd graders for doing such a great thing.