HARTSVILLE — Members of H.B Robinson Nuclear Plant ’s mentoring program spent the day with students at North Hartsville Elementary School to complete a community service project Tuesday.
The mentors meet with the students each week, spending lunch with them and talking with them about issues affecting their lives.
Each year, the mentors and students work on a community service project for the holidays.
Previously, they’ve delivered presents to mentally and physically handicapped residents at the Darlington County Disabilities and Special Needs Board.
This year, though, they decided to adopt two needy families and purchase and wrap Christmas presents for the five children between both families.
Renee Gainey, a self-evaluation specialist with Progress Energy Carolinas, which operates the plant, organizes the community service project.
Gainey said the plant employees received wish lists from the families and worked to purchase every item on the lists, including clothing, Transformers toys, dolls and bicycles.
Gainey said the experience of the students being able to help wrap the presents for the families with the mentors gives them some perspective on the importance of helping others.
“It teaches the children how to give back and it also teaches the children that since we give to them all during the year, how they can help other children," she said.
Gainey said both the mentors and the students receive a sense of satisfaction in knowing that they’ve made a difference in others’ lives.
“I personally think that there’s no better feeling than giving to someone. It just makes you feel good and I think it makes the children feel good too to know that they’re helping other people," she said.
The mentors will deliver the presents to the two families this week.

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