Local Second Graders Donate Coats, Books, and Food to Wake Electric’s “Giving” Initiatives
Wake Forest – For many children, this marks the time of year when they can look forward to the gifts they’ll receive in a few short weeks for the holidays. But for 125 second-graders from Franklin Academy, this season was about the joy of giving. On the morning of December 12th, they bundled up and walked over to Wake Electric’s Wake Forest office, arms full of books, coats, and pantry staples. They were greeted by Wake Electric employees and members of the board of directors who helped them fill all of the community Giving initiatives. This marks the third year that young students from Franklin Academy have organized and come up to the co-op office to donate before the holidays.
The partnership between Wake Electric and Franklin Academy began with a simple idea: involve students in making a difference in their own backyard. Franklin Academy educator Jennifer Bittner and Wake Electric board director Suzy Morgan started this tradition back in 2022, with a small group of second-graders taking a field trip to fill the Giving Fence with coats. Last year, the tradition grew to include all of Franklin Academy’s second graders, who expanded their contributions to the Giving Box as well.
This year, the tradition grew even further as students were able to donate books to the new Giving Library. They also continued their contributions of coats to the Giving Fence, a seasonal coat drive, and pantry staples to the Giving Box, a year-round food pantry. The Giving Library, which officially opened in November, offers community access to children’s books by welcoming donations of new or gently used books. This year’s event marked the largest and most diverse contributions yet, reflecting the growing impact of the Giving initiatives.
It was full circle for Jennifer Bitner, a second-grade teacher at Franklin Academy who had helped inspire the need for a library box. “It was a joy to see the Giving Library up and running to serve the families of Wake Forest,” shared Bittner. “I was impressed by the handiwork and the heart involved with its ‘birth’ this year. The Giving Library will positively impact many children, offering them the comfort and security that comes with owning a book. Repetition builds confidence in young readers, and now families can expand their home libraries thanks to this resource.”
To celebrate the students’ generosity and their contributions to the Giving Fence, Giving Box, and Giving Library, Wake Electric hosted a festive holiday party. The event was filled with snacks, dancing, and holiday cheer, offering the second graders a fun and memorable reward for their acts of kindness. “Students blossom when given opportunities to give and assist others,” Bittner reflected. “It brought me so much joy to see them light up with happiness as they donated a book, canned food items, or a coat to those in need. These joyful moments instill valuable lessons about generosity that will last a lifetime.”
The impact of the event has grown with each passing year, creating meaningful traditions for both the students and the community. “Seeing my students proudly deliver their donations is heartwarming. It’s a beautiful way to teach them about generosity and community spirit,” Bittner said. Morgan echoed this sentiment, sharing her appreciation for the partnership. “Watching this event grow year after year has been such a joy. We’re so grateful to the Franklin Academy second-grade educators and their students for embracing our community resources in such a meaningful way.”
Wake Electric’s community resource-sharing initiatives – the Giving Fence, Giving Box, and Giving Library – thrive on the generosity of our community. Donations of warm coats through the Giving Fence are accepted through February 2nd, while non-perishable food and childrens books can be donated at the Wake Forest office year-round via the Giving Box and Giving Library.