When local students were preparing for the Christmas break this week, students at Morgan Academy were all about the spirit of giving.

Fifth grade students from Reyndy Ammons’ and Marilyn Callaway’s classes donated cat and dog food, cat litter, pet training pads and blankets to the Selma Animal Shelter Thursday.

Ammons said the idea came with a suggestion from a parent who contacted the school.

“We thought it was a wonderful idea to teach the children about the meaning of Christmas,” Ammons said. “They decided instead of getting gifts for children, they’d … provide food for the unfortunate animals.”

Ammons said the project was based from a song titled, “Where’s the line to Jesus?” about a young boy who was in line to see Santa but asked instead about the Savior, the reason for the season.

Giving opportunities such as the one to the shelter, Callaway said, could be a continual effort of the school.

“We would like the chance to share our blessings every year — maybe find another charity or a new one,” Callaway said.

Ammons’ student Ford Chittom was happy to be a part of the efforts.

“It feels really nice to give to underprivileged kittens and puppies,” Chittom said.

The city’s animal control officer greeted students as he loaded the items from the school onto a truck Thursday and later delivered them to the shelter.

Jordan Harrison, a student of Callaway, said she was excited to help.

“My mom came up with it (the idea) and my mom said they (the shelter) really didn’t have help except for the volunteers,” Harrison said.

“It makes me feel great actually because when I was putting food in the truck, I felt a tingle go down my spine that said, ‘I should be doing this every Christmas.’”