NORTH JACKSON — In November, kindergarten students in Sue Prozy’s class at Jackson-Milton Elementary School launched a food and comfort item drive to show their appreciation for active-duty military serving overseas.

Each day, the children would collect and sort donated items and planned on sending powdered drink mixes for water, hot chocolate, protein bars, beef jerky, cough drops, mints or gum, Chapstick, playing cards and personal items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes and deodorant.

This is Prozy’s 20th year of teaching 5- and 6-year-olds about caring for others. Her curriculum includes what she calls her “Pillar of Strength.” This has been her introduction to teaching generosity, family support, mentoring, and students’ physical and mental health.

“The kids get so excited about not just caring for their family members and their classmates, but also understanding the importance of caring for the military personnel who sacrifice for us and our freedom,” Prozy said.

She has a long family history of military deployment. She has a nephew in the Army and a cousin in the Navy — Cari Delgado, who is director of the Trumbull County Veterans Service Commission. Prozy’s father, James Williams, served in the Army and two uncles have served in the Navy.

Robert Zanni, a Title I reading teacher at the school, said it is very difficult to make connections with military men and women, especially overseas. But as a retired 30-year Air Force LoadMaster at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Zanni knows how to make connections.

He located the Navy Special Operations Boat Team 22 Navy SEALs where his nephew is deployed and all of the donated items went to those men and women.

In return, weeks later, thank you cards began to come to the elementary school from the active soldiers in appreciation for the care and kindness of the students. The kids were so excited to have the cards read to them and were excited to hear from the soldiers so far away from home and their families.

The Navy SEALs also sent gift cards for pizza so the students could enjoy a pizza party.