Students in Mrs. Rebekah Bray’s fourth grade class at Pioneer School are learning the joy of giving to others this holiday season.

While most of them will be spending Christmas with their families and loved ones, one of their classmates, Lydia Brown, will be spending Christmas without her father.

Lydia’s father, Doug Brown, an Executive Officer of the 158th Battalion, is stationed in Kuwait and will not be coming home to his family for Christmas.

So, to lift both Lydia’s and her father’s spirits, the class decided to send Brown some Christmas cheer in the form of a goodie bag containing not only necessary items, but also some of his favorite treats and snacks, with each student contributing an item.

“This is the least we could do to show our support and appreciation,” said Bray. “I am so proud to be the teacher of such compassionate and selfless students. This is what the holiday season is all about.”

Some of the treats going to Brown include Snickers candy bars, Fig Newtons, popcorn, M & M candies, peanuts and gum, as well as other useful items like “Field and Stream” magazine, batteries, toothpaste and a copy of his local newspaper, the “Express-Star.”

Lydia also sends a special message to her daddy, “I miss you and I want you to come home.”

The care package going to Brown is not the first time these students have reached out to help others.

“I have a class full of humanitarians,” said Bray. “We also recently sent 20 shoe boxes full of toys and goodies to “Operation Christmas Child.”