Fifth graders send sweet reminder to servicemen

Martha Stanton-Sweet's fifth grade class at Fonda-Fultonville Middle School wanted to say "thank you" to local servicemen and women stationed overseas—and what better way than to say it with cookies!

Their "Donate a Dozen" project began with a plea to parents and staff for a dozen cookies. People responded by contributing over 70 dozen cookies, most of them homemade. Others donated money to offset the shipping costs.

On Wednesday, December 10, Mrs. Stanton-Sweet's class began packaging. The students carefully washed and sanitized their hands and then set up a mini assembly line. Each student moved along desks covered with containers of cookies and selected six assorted cookies to place in individual zip-lock plastic bags. Students then stapled a brief note thanking the recipient for serving our country to each bag. Completed bags were placed in labeled shipping cartons.

As a final step, they added a letter to each box reading, "The Fonda-Fultonville Middle School wants to thank you and your military colleagues for your service to our country. We have collected holiday cookies and placed them into individual bags. Please enjoy some yourself and distribute the rest to your fellow service members. We hope we have provided a 'taste of home' while you are away from home this holiday season." The note was signed, "Donate a Dozen, Mrs. Stanton-Sweet's Homeroom."

Donate a Dozen ties in with the school district's ongoing Operation American Braves. Now in its third year, Operation American Braves enables the school and the community to express its caring and concern for the men and women serving in our armed forces in a tangible way. Individuals, classrooms, grades, and the school have stepped up to send notes, e-mails, and packages.

For Mrs. Stanton-Sweet, the project has special meaning. Her daughter is among the Donate a Dozen recipients. 1st Lieutenant Elizabeth Valade is currently serving in Iraq.

For more information concerning Operation American Braves, visit the school website at www.fondafultonvilleschools.org.