Maniscalco Elementary in Lutz is putting the old adage "it's better to give than to receive" into practice.
- Maniscalco students volunteering with humane society
- So far, they've collected 300 items for donation
- Student council will be continuing project through 2016
At Maniscalco, educators are focused on teaching their young students about charity firsthand.
"We've been collecting items for the homeless cats and dogs for the humane society," fourth-grader Trae Pitts said.
So far, students have collected more than 300 items for Tampa Bay-area shelter animals. Dog and cat food, toys and even towels are being accepted.
The school's plan is to teach children the power of giving.
"It is the first taste of philanthropic work for many of our students," teacher Nikole Cornuta said.
The project has sparked discussion about how rewarding charity work can be.
"Giving is more important than receiving," fourth-grader Brent Williams said. "What you receive, you feel better about you, but nothing about anything else in the world."
"I just feel really happy and proud to help the dogs that are homeless and give them a family to live with, and be proud of what family they have instead of living out in the wild," Trae said.
The school just created a student council. Those students will continue charity projects throughout the year.