Through their annual Thanks and Giving Program, the students at the Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Monmouth County learned the meaning of tikun olam.

Throughout November, students in grades one through eight at the Marlboro school chose to lend their support to a variety of community projects and organizations. The first grade raised money for the Jewish National Fund by conducting a contest that involved guessing the amount of candy in a jar. The second grade collected clothing, toys, and other needed items for Manna House, a women's shelter in Cliffwood Beach.

The third grade sponsored a popcorn sale to benefit American Friends of Magen David Adom in support of Israel's equivalent of the Red Cross. The fourth grade was busy collecting toys for patients in the pediatric ward of Robert Wood Johnson-University Hospital in New Brunswick.

The fifth grade collected blankets and nonperishable snacks for American soldiers stationed in Iraq, and students in the middle school volunteered at Lunch Break in Red Bank, which operates a food pantry and serves daily meals to those in need.

As a result of their involvement in these projects, the students experienced the joy of giving, according to school director Chaya Friedmann.

"The students research a variety of projects and select the one that is most meaningful to them," Friedmann said. "As they work on the projects, they identify with the needs and grow to understand the true significance of tzedaka, or charity, and g'milut hasadim, acts of loving-kindness," said Friedmann.

Additional information about programs at the day school is available by calling 732-431-5525.