Six-year-old Jack Moore sat in a semicircle with his classmates around a Christmas tree and a bounty of presents, each destined for an Island family in need.

"We want them to have a nice Christmas," Jack said. The first-grader at 'Aikahi Elementary School said he would feel "sort of sad" if he woke up Christmas morning to find no presents because his family couldn't afford it.

Thanks to students at 'Aikahi Elementary, some 25 Island families will have presents to brighten their Christmas Day.

The school adopted one family per class through Helping Hands Hawai'i and The Advertiser Christmas Fund.

First-grade teacher Barbara Romig is using the adopt-a-family project to teach her first-graders lessons about life and civic duty. "The students are learning to distinguish wants from needs and are learning the responsibilities of being a citizen," she said.

From books to crayons, clothing to diapers, Romig's class has collected dozens of things they hope will brighten the holiday of their family.

Jack said he's sure his present — a remote-controlled truck — will make the 8-year-old boy it is intended for very happy.

'Aikahi Elementary isn't the only school reaching out to help this holiday season.

Sixth-grade students at Le Jardin Academy organized a used-toy and canned-food drive.

Nicollas Steinemann, 12, said the students in Windy Cummings' class decided a used-toy drive would be the best way they could help needy children this year.

He brought in superhero action figures and said he "hopes it will bring happiness to someone who doesn't have anything."

As students were dropped off at school Thursday morning, Cummings and her class collected boxes of toys to be donated to needy families through Helping Hands Hawai'i.

This is the second year Cummings has helped organize the drive. She said the project helps students be more mindful of the challenges some families face.

Similarly, Allison Bourdlaies' students organized a canned-food drive.

"Hopefully, this will teach them to think outside of themselves and open their eyes to other things happening around the world," said Bourdlaies, a French teacher at Le Jardin.

Ally Draime, 11, said the service project is much more than collecting a basket of food.

"When I heard there were children going without food, I felt bad for them," said Ally. "I imagined myself going without food."

Maria Chomyszak, Helping Hands Hawai'i Community Clearinghouse program manager, said she is delighted to see young people giving this holiday season.

"To see children who are really sincere about helping makes me feel good about our future," said Chomyszak.

Chomyszak said the donations the Community Clearinghouse received are certainly not enough to fulfill everything on each needy family's wish list, but will at least ensure each family gets something.

At 'Aikahi Elementary, Alex Kauhini's sixth-grade class was busy gathering the dozens of items they are donating to the fund.

Kauhini's class adopted a 28-year-old single Kane'ohe mother and her six children, including a 6-week-old girl.

Many of the students in Kauhini's class used their own money — collected through birthday presents and allowances — to purchase items for their adopted family. The class divided up into six groups — one adopted child per group — and purchased items for them.

Kauhini is hoping the project will help her students become lifelong givers.

Kate Kelly, 11, and her group purchased baby clothes and other baby items.

"For me, I'll be able to go to sleep better knowing someone will have better days from what I did," Kate said.

Eleven-year-old Cody Forsyth and his group helped buy items for a 9-year-old boy.

School supplies, a Nerf-ball game, a T-shirt, and even a mattress, Cody's group had thought of everything.

"This made me realize that we're all pretty fortunate to have the things we have," Cody said.

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.