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ISHPEMING TWP. -- From kindergarten to eighth grade, students in the NICE Community School District put the give in Thanksgiving this holiday season.

"If we don't bring everybody the food, then they won't have any food to eat," says first grader Olivia Klumpp.

Helped by the United Steelworkers Union Locals 4950 and 4974, each homeroom weighed the donations brought in by their class.

And no matter their age, the students knew their contributions were important.

"I think it's really important to bring in cans to help other people because I feel helping other people is very important," says eighth grader Elayne Larmour.

"It makes me feel really good about myself knowing that I'm helping people," adds eighth grader Cortnee Vantuinen.

The Steelworkers began helping out with the Canathon around the time it started.  A lot of the miners were out of work and wanted to give back.

"They wanted to do something so we jumped on the bandwagon and said, hey it's a great idea, we're going to get help, and then we just stayed on and we've been doing something every year," says Tom Spencer.

To reward the students for their collection efforts, the Steelworkers host a pizza party for the winning classrooms in each category.

The students at Aspen Ridge School were able to collect 3,685 pounds of food for the TV6 Canathon.  The United Steelworkers are also picking up donations at the Negaunee schools.