With Thanksgiving only a couple days away, Alecia Overbeck's sixth-grade class at Solheim Elementary is giving a needy family something to be thankful for.

"Every morning our class has a morning meeting, and for this one we decided our class project will be to cook a Thanksgiving dinner for a family," student Ben Pace said.

"This is a very giving class; they jumped at the chance to provide help to a family in need," said Overbeck.

The class decided to provide a Thanksgiving dinner for a family that wasn't able to have one. So, the school's social worker found a family the class could cook for.

"It's a good trait for kids to learn, that it is better to give than to receive," said sixth-grader Dan Heiden.

All 19 students in the class were able to contribute to the event. Some met at Overbeck's house Sunday to prepare the meal. And those who weren't able to cook at her house helped by donating the necessary food supplies.

At Overbeck's house, students were all over the place, working together with different projects to help make the meal a success. A couple students designed a menu to be given to the family.

"We decided as a class what food items would go on the menu. Then, Ms. Overbeck chose who would bring what," student Laura Aaker said.

The students who weren't putting together the menu were preparing the food. The menu consisted of everything from turkey and gravy to stuffing and corn. They all worked together as Overbeck gave them cooking directions.

"We need to start somewhere to change people's lives. This is a good experience for us," Ben said.

The students said they felt good about their class project.

"It's a good influence for the class to do something like this," said Mikayla Rittle.

Sara Bachmeier, another sixth-grader, described the whole event as "awesome."

"We sometimes worry so much about academics, but it's just as important as teaching students compassion," Overbeck said.

The dinner was prepared Sunday afternoon and delivered to the family later in the evening.

(Megan Nitschke is a student at Mandan High School.)