Continuing a longstanding tradition at Dent Elementary, the second grade classes prepared holiday care packages for several military service personnel on active duty.

“This is our 10th year sending packages to military members who can’t be home for the holidays,” said teacher Katie Bartelink. “We sent 11 packages of goodies including candy, Christmas accessories, toiletries and games. Four of those packages went to siblings of Dent second graders.”

Names of local service members are provided with the students then helping to get donations to put the boxes together.

Classes involved were those of Mrs. Lueck, Mrs. Bartelink, Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Campbell, Mrs. Panero and Mrs. Taylor.

Bartelink also said some special thanks were due this year, as they reached the milestone of a decade sending boxes.

“The second-grade team would like to give a shout out to Ken (Postmaster Ken Crandal) and his team at the Escalon Post Office for all their hard work and time,” Bartelink said. “It’s never a quick visit from us and they always keep a smile on their faces when they see us roll in with a wagon full of boxes.”