Milton students learn the gift of giving

Milton Elementary School students have been busy spreading cheer this holiday season.

From making wreaths for senior citizens to collecting food for the needy and stuffing stockings full of toys, students are learning the true meaning of giving.

"They seem to understand the situation nowadays," said teacher Scott Pierce who organized a schoolwide food drive.

His students helped organize the food drive and rally other students to participate.

"They had a lot of fun," he said. "They thoroughly enjoyed talking to the other classes about the food drive. It gave them a sense of responsibility."

Students brought in more than 3,000 food items for the Sussex County food drive. That's more than 1,000 more than last year, Pierce said.

The food was collected and brought to the Caroling on the Circle festivities in Georgetown.

In addition to the food drive, students and teachers stuffed stockings full of presents for the Salvation Army. Teacher Terri Green said they filled 15 stockings with toys for Sussex County children and also had some extra.

"We had boxes of toys that wouldn't fit in the stocking," she said.

Afterschool, Green works as the director of Friends After School at Milton Elementary. This year, the group's Arts of Crafts Club put together five fancy Christmas wreaths made of green and red Christmas ornaments, which they gave to senior citizens at the Harrison House in Georgetown.

"The children loved making the wreaths," Green said.

Students also made handprint wreaths for residents of Harrison House.