A community of 12 kindergarten children and their siblings and parents gathered to collect more than 1,500 canned foods for the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry to help those who might need Thanksgiving food.  

Parents and children start their canned food campaign by placing leaflets around their Valencian community, which contain information about when to pick up food and what items are needed in the pantry. 

A week later, the children and their parents returned to the nearby house, collected everything, and then the caravan went to the pantry to deliver the food. 

One of the parents is Carolyn Veis. She said the community's response was supportive and encouraged the children's contribution and hard work.  

"The neighbors all wrote small notes to the children on the initial flyers, saying,'Thank you very much for doing this, you are so sweet, and Happy Thanksgiving,'" Weiss said. 

The parents had a difficult conversation, explaining to the children why they should help the pantry and explaining that not everyone has access to food.  

Parents hope that every time they have the opportunity to pay this money through community service, the children will grow up to know that they are lucky and are working hard to help those who are less fortunate. 

The two children involved, Jack and Emma, ​​said they wanted to help others, which made them satisfied with the work they did. 

"It's hard to explain hunger to a 5-year-old. Jack and Emma are very lucky. They have food on the table... so it's a bit difficult to explain, but we have done our best," Weiss said. 

Veis and many parents have established friendships and connections with the participating groups, and discovered many similarities, which brought them closer.  

"So we are all discussing in this group chat now. I think I know my parents a little bit better, so it makes me really happy because that is my community and these are my neighbors," Weiss said. 

The parents notified the pantry to send the donations and explained how to deliver canned food in the pantry. According to Weiss, the caravan was unloaded from the canned food, and the staff in the pantry was taken aback by all the children and donations. 

Weiss said: "I think it's really lovely to see these kids bring all the food." 

James Espinoza, executive director of the pantry, said that the canned food and the children's caravan made everyone smile at the pantry.  

Espinosa said: "They are amazing. They brought eight carts of canned food, and the suitcases were full of canned food." "It's great to see the children deliver food energetic."  

The parents discussed the idea of ​​collecting canned food every year, as well as the idea of ​​contributing in other ways, such as potential toy drives. 

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