OPE second-graders assist Hugs Across the County to help other local students

Ocean Palms Elementary second-grade students Sophia Koppenhafer (front row, from left), Tallula Schiavo, Eamon Rocha and Graham Butler gather with Brette Reiman, director of Hugs Across the County (back row, from left), Jan Caban of the St. Johns County School District ASSIST program and Sandy Calvin, vice president of Hugs Across the County. The OPE second-grade students spent the first two weeks in October working to collect full size toiletries and new children's underwear to benefit Hugs Across the County (stjohnshugs.org). The students, teachers and families created nearly 200 emergency care packages, each filled with new underwear, toothpaste, a toothbrush, shampoo and soap. The emergency care packages will be distributed to K-12th grade St. Johns County students in crisis situations, including the hundreds of local children who are considered homeless.