A Thanksgiving Tradition of Kindness

At Pafford, traditions aren’t just repeated year after year—they grow with us. Our Thanksgiving Canned Food Drive originated as a small effort led by teachers determined to support families in need during the holiday season. Over time, that simple act of kindness became part of who we are as a campus.

This year, we introduced a new tradition: “Students Giving to Students.” The hope was to expand the spirit of giving beyond staff and into the hands of the entire school community. And Pafford rose to the occasion immediately.

Students lit up with excitement when they heard about the grade-level competition. The chance to earn a dress-down day definitely helped, but it wasn’t long before the competition turned into something deeper. Each morning, students proudly carried bags of canned goods through the doors—not just for the prize, but because they genuinely wanted to help.

Our Student Council stepped forward early on, encouraging their classmates and modeling what leadership looks like at Pafford. Their enthusiasm rippled through the building and helped fuel the momentum. Watching them, you could see the values we teach in action: generosity, empathy, and courage.

Families joined in with the same spirit. Some donated what they could; others reached out to relatives or local businesses for support. One standout moment came from Mrs. Villalobos, a 2nd-grade teacher, whose husband gathered over 200 cans from his workplace at Arcosa Aggregates. These kinds of efforts showed how deeply connected our community really is.

The pride could be felt across campus, and the voices of our staff, families, and students told the story better than anything:

“I think it’s a great way to involve families at TBP so they can help others in need,” said Mrs. Hagen, staff member and parent, as she watched students drop off their contributions.

Our principal, Mrs. Olivas, reflected on the impact as well:

“I am very excited this year about our food drive. Ms. Lerma, our counselor, took a huge initiative, and it’s become a huge success. Our teachers are very involved—even their spouses are recruiting support at their workplaces. It’s becoming a huge success for our community here at Pafford.”

Students felt that same sense of purpose. Sophia, a 4th-grader, summed it up simply:

“This program is really generous, and we can help others who are in need.”

And for parents like Mrs. Carrillo, the impact is clear:

“I think it is a wonderful idea because it’s going to support many families.”

With the outpouring of donations, we opened our Thanksgiving Assistance Survey for families in need, confident that we would be able to provide food bags to several households this holiday season.

This is who we are at Pafford.