The holidays are a time to let those closest to you know how much they mean to you. Unfortunately, not everyone gets to be with their families during this time. And it’s too easy to forget that.

Lisa Wickens is on a mission to make sure her second-graders never forget those less fortunate.

“We’ve really been working on self-confidence, and that’s really how this project came to be,” she said. “It was a natural extension to give back to the community.”

The project she is referring to are the care packages the children in her class sent with handmade ornaments and letters for soldiers overseas who won’t be with their families this Christmas.

“We studied veterans and (the children) were very interested,” Wickens said.

Wickens has a friend whom she could connect with to send care packages. They sent six flat-rate boxes, four filled with food and drinks and the others filled with stuff the kids made.

Wickens and other teachers hosted an after-school event for students to come make Santa ornaments for the soldiers. Forty students, as well as parent volunteers, showed up.

“It’s not easy for kids to do something cool and walk away from it,” Wickens said. “But they all shared it willingly.”

Along with the Santa ornaments, the kids sewed a pillow with a felt heart with their names on it inside.

“It’s symbolic of them sending their love overseas,” Wickens said.

There are 30 letters in each box with the hope that a soldier reading them will pass them along.

“We’re hoping the letters will go to hundreds of people who can’t be with their families,” Wickens said.

That was the point that was really driven home for the 7- and 8-year-olds.: the idea that people won’t be with their families opening presents under the tree this Christmas.

“They’re giving a gift to us by sacrificing for America, and we’re happy to give back,” said 7-1/2-year-old Trinity.

“I feel really happy that we can do this,” Isis, 8, said.

“I feel so excited but sad that they are away from their family. But I’m happy we can help.”

“I’m happy to give them presents,” Ava, 7, said. “It’s like they’re from Santa, but it’s not Santa. But it’s like they’re at home.”

Ava has a close connection to this project because her father is currently serving overseas. So is a student’s dad from Wickens’ class last year. That’s how she connected the class to the bases.

Wickens is hoping the class will get a pen pal out of this to keep the students aware of what’s going on.

“We spent a lot of time talking about things that 7-year-olds don’t always get to talk about,” Wickens said. “They have a passion for it.

“It’s great to give them the opportunity to express it and share.”

One of the lessons Wickens expresses to her class is “Love what you do, do what you love.”

She said this is something we are all working on as people. And she hopes the idea of helping others will carry on through the rest of their lives.

“I told them the most important gift they can get is to help or give to someone else,” Wickens said.

“They can feel it as 7-and-8 year olds. It’s amazing.”