Bend-La Pine Schools students are currently engaged in dozens of projects throughout our schools aimed at giving back to those in need. From collecting food to creating Kindness Kits to gathering winter boots, students and staff are finding ways to assist our community.

“It’s heart-warming to see the efforts of our students, staff and parent community giving to those in need,” said Superintendent Shay Mikalson. “We are proud that our schools are helping teach students the power of compassion and kindness.”

Details about some of the efforts at local schools:

(alphabetical by school; contact schools for details)

Amity Creek Magnet at Thompson School: The fourth-graders are hosting a Feast of Gratitude open house, art display and winter boot drive for Family Access Network (FAN) through 5 p.m. today at Mother’s Juice Café on Galveston Avenue. The school will also collect new or gently used winter boots through Dec. 16.

Bend-La Pine Online: Students in the Make a Difference Club are having a winter hat, sock and mitten drive for families. Several drop-boxes are located around Bend, including at the Education Center, 520 N.W. Wall St. Collection ends Dec. 15.

Cascade Middle School: Students are collecting canned food, gift cards for FAN and gift cards for the school’s Sparrow.

Elk Meadow Elementary School: Students are collecting canned food through Dec. 15 and have already amassed 550 items.

Ensworth Elementary School: Each grade level is working on a specific service project during the month, and the fifth grade class is collecting canned food.

High Lakes Elementary School: Families are collecting toys, gifts and necessities to deliver to 27 families at High Lakes and Rosland Elementary School.

La Pine Elementary School: The school is taking part in a food drive with items going to the Christmas Basket Association.

La Pine High School: Every year the high school students host a Hawks-Giving food drive and items go to the La Pine Community Kitchen and food baskets. The food drive runs from Nov. 28 to Dec. 13 and the students set a high goal: to collect 30,000 items. Students in the Student Senate are also volunteering to work in the La Pine Community Kitchen. Community members are welcome to participate and volunteers will pick up donations. Contact: 541-355-8500.

Lava Ridge Elementary School: Students are collecting canned food and gifts to give to the Bend Elks through Dec. 14.

Marshall High School: Students are participating in a food drive for the Giving Plate through Dec. 16.

Mountain View High School: Students are collecting canned food through Dec. 14 and are hosting a giving tree for Mountain View students in need. Gifts are being wrapped by school counselors and given to students this week.

Pacific Crest Middle School: The school has a giving tree and is selling candy cane grams in support of FAN. Students also hosted a cereal and oatmeal drive supporting NeighborImpact during the first two weeks of December and collected more than 200 boxes of cereal and oatmeal. The school’s Winter Wonderland Dance also supported the food bank and students collected more than $600 and 4,000 pounds of food during that event.

Pilot Butte Middle School: The school has several ongoing efforts, including the Spanish Club selling Pulsera Project bracelets to help those in need in Nicaragua.

Ponderosa Elementary School: The school is partnering with the Bend Food Project for the year. During the first food drive, which ended Oct. 19, students collected 2,490 pounds of food. The next collection date is set for Dec. 14. The school also sponsors a giving tree for families in need at the school.

R.E. Jewell Elementary School: Students are hosting a canned food drive for the Bend Elks through Dec. 15. The school has collected more than 1,100 items so far. The Parent Teacher Organization also has a giving tree with items to support FAN through Dec. 15.

Rosland Elementary School: Students are collecting food items for the La Pine Christmas Basket Association through Dec. 14. Currently the school has collected 540 items.

Silver Rail Elementary School: Students are making Kindness Kits (made up of shampoo, soap, socks, chapstick, hand warmers, washcloths, food, water and more) that are taken to the Shepherd’s House, the LOFT, Jericho Road and Central Oregon Veterans Outreach, where they are passed out to homeless individuals in the community. Every student at Silver Rail will assemble a kit. In total, the school expects to have created 430 bags by the end of this week. This is an ongoing project for the entire school that will take place several times a year.

Summit High School: The National Honor Society hosted its fifth annual winter clothing drive for gently used winter clothing items, which will be donated to FAN, Saving Grace, Shepherd’s House and Bethlehem Inn (the drive concluded Dec. 11). The student council hosted a canned food and necessities drive that went to Summit families in need as well as other families throughout the district. Staff members are collecting cash and winter coats and boots this week to donate to FAN. During Halloween, the Drama Club went door-to-door collecting cans rather than candy and collected 800 pounds of food for NeighborImpact.

Three Rivers School: Students are collecting food through Dec. 15 and are working with a representative from Oregon State University nutrition to sort the items every week, with the goal of trying to make sure all food groups are equally represented.

Transportation Department: Our bus drivers and transportation staff are hosting a canned food drive for NeighborImpact and a pet supply drive for the Humane Society of Central Oregon. The drive runs through Dec. 16.

Westside Village Magnet at Kingston School: The school is hosting a giving tree to help those in need through Dec. 16. The school is also hosting a clothing drive for homeless individuals through Dec. 16; donations from the community are welcome. Students also recently hosted a holiday bazaar and raised $555 to donate to a local nonprofit.

William E. Miller Elementary School: Students are hosting a canned food drive for Bend Elks with a goal of collecting 2,300 pounds of food. The drive ends Dec. 14. (If students reach the goal, staff members will perform as rock stars during an assembly Dec. 16). One student is also leading a toy drive effort for Ronald McDonald House with a collection box in the main office.