Fremont students take action to make holidays happier for those in need

While Santa has been busy tracking everyone's wants, students and teachers at Fremont School District 79 have been looking out for their needs.

Teachers have been educating the students about the families in their community who are homeless, going without food, and have no extra money for holiday gifts for their children.

Students and teachers took action at the Fremont school campus. The middle school organized a food drive for the township. Second-graders created homemade fleece blankets for a homeless shelter. Third- and fourth-graders, along with staff, purchased hundreds of gifts for families who had no extra cash for holiday gift giving.

"The caring, dedicated staff and collective community promote and support a variety of outreach experiences and service projects that extend learning beyond the school walls," Superintendent Jill Gildea said. "Fremont 79 staff and students work to positively impact our community and our world."

Teachers learned of 12 Fremont students who might have gone without gifts over the holiday. They rallied their efforts and donate over 200 gifts for them. Third-graders got into the spirit of gift giving for the Fremont Township's Adopt a Family Program and purchased about 240 gifts of toys, coats, shoes and more. Earlier in the month, third- and fourth-grade multi-age classrooms went on a Target shopping spree to purchase gifts for families.

Second-graders used their allowance to purchase materials to make 45 blankets for a local PADS (Providing Advocacy, Dignity & Shelter) site. Fremont Middle School students raised a little over 1,600 pounds of food and supplies for the Fremont Township.

"I'm glad we did this project. Were helping someone who doesn't have a lot of money for the holidays," third grader Logan Young said.