By By Adrienne McKenzie
The holidays are a time of giving and that is just what local schools are doing for this Thanksgiving season, along with a little fun on the side.
Area schools have participated in food drives along with other ways to help families in need during the holidays.
According to Huxford Elementary School secretary Kary Lassitter, the school held a holiday food drive and the food will be given away for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.
"Huxford Elementary School recently held a holiday food drive," Lassitter said. "Cans were collected for both Auburn football and Alabama football. The students enjoyed the competition and also collected food for a good cause."
Lassitter said more than 1,500 cans were collected overall.
"The results of the collection was Alabama 892 cans and Auburn 710 cans," she said.
Escambia County High School has participated in a blood drive as well, according to Sheryl West, ECHS media specialist.
"I had requested that my National Honor Society bring a can of food to our meeting and then Mrs. (Linda) Shuford announced it was a school wide food drive," West said. "Any student who brought three items of food could wear Alabama or Auburn clothes to school."
As of Friday afternoon, the total number of cans collected at ECHS was undetermined.
"The National Honor Society students probably brought about 80 cans, but I'm sure school wide we did much more than that," West said. "I've seen a lot of students walking around in either Auburn or Alabama sweatshirts today so I think a lot of students participated."
Rachel Patterson Elementary School principal Susan McKenzie said her school and especially the second graders got into the Iron Bowl and giving spirit.
"This was the second grade reading unit's project on kindness and they wanted to show their kindness by supplying Thanksgiving meals to families," McKenzie said.
The second grade students sold Alabama and Auburn footballs, which created a friendly competition at the school. They raised a total of $1,185.50 and Alabama won by two footballs.
"Six hundred dollars of that will go to the Ladies of Essence for them to make Thanksgiving baskets for 20 families," McKenzie said. "The remainder of the money is going into a disaster fund we're starting for Rachel Patterson students that have a tragedy during the school year, such as a fire or tornado."
McKenzie said not only those affiliated with RPES bought footballs either.
"Not only did the students, faculty and staff help, but local businesses also contributed and we appreciate all their support," McKenzie said.
Escambia Academy will hold their Thanksgiving program tomorrow and other local schools will be out for the week.