RED, WHITE AND BLUE, I LOVE YOU!

Pines Elementary School 3rd graders sent 100 care packages to U.S. troops stationed in Africa. The students chose to send the care packages to Africa because Pines 3rd grade student Nick LaFamina’s father is stationed there. “I am very excited because my dad will get packages from my 3rd grade for himself and to give out to the other people that he is with,” said LaFamina.

The care packages contained Valentine’s Day cards handmade by the students as well as gum, candy, envelopes, writing paper, pens, puzzle books and decks of cards. Wearing red, white and blue, the students rotated around tables by class to stuff the boxes. They also each signed a banner that was sent to the servicemen and women. “We then talked as a grade about how wonderful it was for the students to give up their own Valentine’s Day event in order to do this project,” described Pines 3rd Grade Teacher Melissa Titone. “The students were very enthusiastic about helping and very proud of their accomplishment.”

The Valentine’s Day project was the brainchild of 3rd grade student Gabrielle Catanzaro. “I’m friends with Nick, and I thought it would be nice to help the troops, to give them something because they are in the middle of Africa. They are risking their lives for us and helping us, so we should help them.”