Children learn a lesson in caring

  HOULTON, Maine — When Emma Ardell celebrated her birthday January 7, she was looking for gifts, but not for herself. Her mother, Cory Ardell said they have a tradition of helping the food pantry.
    “Every year, especially for Emma’s birthday since it falls just a couple of weeks after Christmas, instead of gifts we have been making donations to the food pantry. I’m teaching them that other people have needs too. So, on the invitation we put ‘no gifts please. Bring donations of non-perishable food items or checks for the food pantry,’” explained the mother of four which includes a set of twins.
Sunday morning Emma, her sisters and her Sunday school class gathered for the presentation to the food pantry. The donation included a shopping cart of non perishable food along with checks amounting to $55.
Emma, who turned seven, said “I feel very happy for the people who don’t have food.”