BEAUMONT — Members of the Port Neches-Groves High School Key Club spent their first two days of Thanksgiving break getting up early.

Fourteen students, along with parents, staff and volunteers visited Some Other Place in Beaumont to help distribute tons of food to the community for Thanksgiving Day meals.

Chris Boucher, sponsor for the Key Club, said he couldn’t be prouder of the work that his students have done during their time off.

“Key Club’s whole purpose is to give without anything in return,” he said. “We’re a student-led organization. They learn leadership. They learn what it means to serve in the community and it’s just a good way to show that caring is a very good thing.”

This week’s service project included arriving early to Beaumont’s non-profit organization Some Other Place to set up, organize and distribute canned foods, desserts, produce and more to families in need Monday and Tuesday.

“This project teaches the students to gather and to give,” Boucher said. “The kids have to follow everything through, not just gather the food but to hand it out and serve a community in need.”

Key Club secretary Colton Wells said the entire experience has been humbling.

“The first day we set up the area,” he said. “(Tuesday) we handed out food to people who need it. It’s very helpful, because on Thanksgiving if they have no food and nothing to do, it would be very sad. Being here is rewarding. I want to help people, it’s just something I like to do.”

Alice Myers, Key Club webmaster, said it warms her heart to see so many people willing to give food and time selflessly.

“This experience has taught me to be more grateful for what I have,” she said. “It’s taught me value and that not everyone is as lucky as I am.”

PNG’s Key Club has participated in the Some Other Place Thanksgiving day give-back for decades. Chrissie Joyner, an employee of S.O.P., said the project would not be as successful and organized without the students help.

“They are all hard workers,” she said. “On their week off and getting them up early, we could not operate this without them. It makes our volunteer pool huge, and they bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm.

“Even about 60 percent of our donated food comes from the schools. It’s two-fold, we get volunteers and they also work really hard to get the food. It’s special and a blessing all around.

In the state of Texas last year, PNG Key Club ranked No. 7 for service in the community. For more information, visit pngisd.org.