Fort Dale Academy second grade students gave back as part of a Christmas class project on Dec. 15.

For the month of December, Mrs. Ann Blackmon’s second grade class collected and assembled bags of toiletries, blankets and other gifts for Comfort Care Hospice patients.

Instead of giving each other gifts, the students elected to give to those less fortunate in the community as a classroom Christmas project.

Blackmon recognized the need.

“Some people will not get a gift except this bag this season,” Blackmon said. “This gift is as much of a gift of someone coming and visiting. It’s a small amount of life and joy for the patients.”

Leading her second graders, Blackmon helped the students create personalized Christmas cards for the patients. The children packed a total of 25 bags.

Rebecca Manning, volunteer coordinator at Comfort Care Hospice, said, “The bags will be distributed to Butler, Lowndes, Crenshaw, and Wilcox counties. This class is helping spread Christmas joy.”