Montessori students collect goodies for children

North Bend Montessori teachers, left to right, Ruth Moran, Rhoda Kairis, Dawn Roberts, Sally Rankin, Sue Frederic and Sarah Mellon display the banner made by students for Operation Christmas Child. The school's students, parents and teachers provided gifts including personal hygiene products, toys, books, sweet treats and money to cover shipping costs. The school filled 75 shoe boxes to be distributed to 75 children around the world through Operation Christmas Child - a nonprofit charity run by Samaritan's Purse, a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. The school decided to participate in the effort as a way to teach students compassion and the gift of giving.