CALDWELL -- It's considered one of the poorest schools in the Caldwell School District.
The students at Van Buren Elementary School know the full effects of a poor economy.
So the season of giving, has turned into a lesson at the school.
"Approximately 90 percent of our students are on the free and reduced list, we are a schoolwide Title One school, and in the district we have the highest number of kids on a free and reduced (lunch), and so that's why charities tend to lean toward us, and for our families and kids, that is great," said schoolo counselor Erin Gerry.
From free and reduced lunches, federal funding, and local support, this new Caldwell school is in constant need of help, but the students are learning others need help too.
"Their eyes are being open to that concept that there is a world beyond Van Buren Elementary and that there are other kids in their same situation and they are starting to realize that wow people have really helped me out, it's time to help out someone else," said Gerry.
The students started a recycling fundraiser and are part of the "College For Every Student" program, also known as CFES.
The team of third, fourth, and fifth graders decided to raise money themselves and give it away later.
"We are saving cans to help other people," said fourth-grader Cesar DeLuna.
"I thought it was cool because, this is like the first project that we donate to a charity," said fourth-grader Travis Mitchell.
"What we are doing is taking aluminum cans here to give to the Idaho Foodbank, The Salvation Army or the Rescue Mission," said fourth-grader Braidon Bowman.
One by one they have been collecting, then bagging and brining their cans to Gerry's office.
"We are going to recycle them and give money to the people," said fourth-grader, Sergio Lopez-Burns.
Since the school has received so much, they are now looking to pay it forward.
"I think that we are going to help the other people, the people who have helped us," said DeLuna
There really is no monetary goal or specific number of cans to collect the students hope to collect, just as many as possible.
They've tapped their resources by asking their parents, so they are hoping to reach out and get empty cans lying around or in garages that they could put to good use.
"What do you tell all those people who have cans sitting in their garage?" asked NewsChannel 7.
"Bring them down to Van Buren Elementary," said Mitchell.
