Second-, fourth- and sixth-graders at Skagit Adventist School in Burlington, and conference employee children have a new appreciation for gift giving.

During the holidays, the 66 students in these three grades bypassed the usual classroom gift exchange to help four homeless families in the Skagit Valley. Each classroom had a "wrap" party where they decorated their own paper, wrapped presents, and baked cookies to give to the families.

Why give? "Because Jesus wants our hearts to be kind," says one second-grader.

Children of conference employees wrapped gift boxes for five families from It Takes a Village family agency in Federal Way.

"The plan was for the children to wrap the boxes and the parents to fill them with their food donations," says Denise White, associate superintendent and party coordinator. "However, the kids had so much fun wrapping the boxes and so they filled them too."

"As a parent," says Elizabeth Yeagley, conference administrative assistant, "I am pleased whenever my children have an opportunity to serve the community."