WEST ORANGE, NJ - Fifth grade students at Hazel Elementary School mobilized to provide 60 complete lunches on Feb. 3 for Christine's Kitchen, a local soup kitchen that provides lunches every Saturday between 12:00 - 1:00 pm at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in West Orange.

The service initiative was organized by Principal Joel Castillo, PTA President Taylor, Hazel's staff, and the fifth grade students.

"The collaborative effort to create and distribute 60 lunches with various thoughtful items to promote service and kindness within the community was a wonderful initiative," began Castillo.

The project took place in the gym with an assembly line organized and manned by students and staff. Hair nets and gloves were worn by all participants to conform to required food service standards. One group decorated bags, one added snacks, one made sandwiches, another made encouraging notes, etc.

"It's heartening to see such projects in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the focus on service and kindness during the months of January and February. The inclusion of decorated brown bags with inspiring messages and additional notes on kindness from students added a personal touch to the initiative," explained Castillo.

"Hazel Avenue Elementary School delivered the lunches to Christine's Kitchen, a commendable choice, as it reflects a commitment to supporting the local community. This project not only brings people together but also instills valuable lessons about empathy and compassion in the younger generation. Kudos to everyone involved in making this service project a success!" he concluded.

Enthusiasm was high at Hazel during the assembly, and all lunches were distributed to grateful recipients at noon on Saturday.

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