Evendale Elementary Students Share Sweet Support with Troops
After trick-or-treating fun wrapped up last weekend, students at Evendale Elementary decided to share their Halloween spirit in a special way — by donating their candy to U.S. troops serving overseas.
The school collected 100 pounds of candy as part of its “Treats for Troops” drive, a program that encourages children to give a portion of their Halloween haul to service members who can’t be home for the holidays.
“We tell our students that a small act of kindness can travel a long way,” said Mr. Josh Murray, principal of Evendale Elementary. “This project helps our kids learn about gratitude and giving while brightening the day of someone far from home.”
Throughout the week, classrooms turned into mini donation centers as children proudly brought in their extra candy. Staff volunteers and teachers then packed the sweets along with thank-you notes, drawings, and letters written by the students.
A fourth-grader said she was happy to give up some of her candy: “They protect us, so it’s nice to give them something fun to eat.”
Teachers say the project fits perfectly with the school’s character education program, teaching lessons about generosity, empathy, and community service.
“Kids love candy, but they love helping even more,” said one teacher, who helped organize the drive. “It’s amazing to see how excited they get about making a difference.”
The school hopes to make the candy drive a continuing tradition.
“It’s a sweet way to say thank you,” said Principal Murray. “And it reminds us all that kindness never goes out of season.”