Staff members at Holbrook Indian School have been emphasizing the joy of giving to others in need this year.

Before Christmas, the Bread of Life Mission, a Holbrook relief agency, put out a plea for bedding and bath supplies for local homeless. HIS Pathfinder club decided they wanted to help, and collected several bags of blankets, sheets, towels and pillows from the staff and neighbors around the school. Pastor Tony Rivera and members of the Pathfinder club delivered the donations to the mission in time to be helpful when the cold weather came.

Eleven students helped the Salvation Army by serving as “bell ringers” at the local Safeway stores, and the elementary students helped the Northern Arizona Food Bank collect turkeys, breaking a local record of 23 donations in one day. Several other students shared apples, hot chocolate and conversation with some of the homeless in Holbrook.

The sophomore class decided to create food baskets. With the student association, they did a “walk and knock” campaign in Holbrook over several days, and collected just under 1,000 cans of food. Items were divided into family-sized boxes and delivered to area families in need.

Community service is an on-going program, and in January, teams of students and staff cleaned up areas of Holbrook and the roads between the town and the school. Neighbors were surprised and pleased at the student’s initiative, prompting some to call the school to express appreciation for their efforts.

HIS kids are learning that it can be as much fun to give back to others as it is to get things for themselves, and giving back can be done in many different ways. They have learned that even if people don’t have much money to give, they can create blessings with their time and energy.