Our district has "blue jean Fridays" and teachers pay for the privilege. The proceeds to buy winter coats, shoes, etc. for needy children. Our middle school has a closet for kids who need clothing (it is jam-packed).

If there is a family in need in our district (from a fire for instance), we pass around an envelope and collect food, clothing and household items for them. We recently donated several hundred dollars to each of two families whose children were killed in car crashes.

We recently held a blanket drive (just teachers) for the local emergency shelters. The collection boxes were filled with new blankets and quilts.

And we collect for new school supplies at the beginning of the year for children who come to school without any.

Add this to school-wide Support the Troops and food drives... and in many ways we are the benefactors of our community.