It wasn’t what they were expecting.
It was way more.
And, it was a Thanksgiving and holiday season lesson well learned.
Last week, the Park Elementary School Leadership Club sponsored a food drive for the Great Bend Food Bank. It netted 989 items.
“It blew us away,” said Alana Blessing, a family support representative at Park and the club’s sponsor. “This is such a great learning lesson not only for my club, but for all students  to work together  take pride in themselves and share the experience of giving during this time of Thanksgiving.”
The drive evolved into a contest pitting grades kindergarten through six against each other with a popcorn and pop party on the line. Kelsey Perry’s first grade class brought in the most items for a total of 165.  
This was just the latest example of what this small group of fifth and sixth graders has done to give back. “Our mission is to find way to help our school and the community,” Blessing said.
In its first year, the club has already helped at the Daniel Tricky Life-giving Center, cleaned tables outside the school and tackled other projects, such as ringing bells for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign.
 The club consists of nine fifth- and sixth-grade girls. “This is a chance for them to see what its like to have the feeling of helping others, especially at this time of year,” Blessing said.
They are now in the process of making an anti-bullying music video.
Membership in the club has had other benefits, the sponsor said. “They are so much kinder at school. You can see them blooming.”
The girls seek out kids who appear to be alone and sit with them, and are nicer towards everyone else.
Meetings are held after school four days a week, Monday through Thursday.