Christmas season is here once again and the National Honor Society students are making their rounds in homerooms all month to collect money and food for the Adopt A Family program run by school nurse Mrs. Eileen Flynn. The program started 12 years ago and it benefits families in need that live in Tyngsboro. They are given the things they need for Christmas that they can't afford. Unemployed parents and foster children are commonly helped by the program.

NHS advisor Mr. James Conlon says, "This year we have more families in need than ever. We need people to be extra generous."

According to Mrs. Flynn, there were 84 families helped last year, and this year there will be even more than that. Mrs. Flynn has a list of all families in need. All through December, the NHS members collect food to prepare holiday baskets and raise money to buy gifts for each family. Local businesses donate money and gifts to the program. All Tyngsboro public schools staff and students are asked to donate if they can. The members of NHS go around both the high school and middle school during homeroom to collect donations of money and non-perishable food items. Senior NHS member Ashley Park says, "The middle school children enjoy it a lot and have donated a lot of money."

There are six teachers that "adopt" a family by buying Christmas presents for them with their own money. History teacher Mrs. Deborah Teal has done this for several years. She says, "We need to remember those who are struggling to keep food and heat in their homes and I believe every child should have a present to open on Christmas morning." Mrs. Teal has always thought it is important to help out the less fortunate, not only at the holidays, but all of the time because there are always people in need. She thinks the program is great. "Our program is such a labor of love, although a lot of work, especially for Mrs. Flynn."

Mrs. Flynn says "The staff has been very helpful this year, and students and businesses have been donating a lot of stuff, too."

Once everything has been collected, the members of NHS sort through everything and Mrs. Flynn prepares the presents for the families. The Tyngsboro Police pick the gifts and food baskets up from the school and deliver them to the families a few days before Christmas.

Senior NHS member David Dagley thinks the program is "a great way for students to raise money to help others out."