It’s wonderful to witness the spirit of giving in Butler County during the holiday season by the county’s generous denizens.

It’s even better to see young people getting involved and looking out for their fellow classmates — which was on abundant display in the Eagle this past weekend.

In any given year, there are children and adults in need in the community, but COVID-19 and its economic aftershocks are exacerbating that situation.

In previous years, about 1 in 5 U.S. parents were unable to buy their children Christmas presents, but a recent CBS News poll found that nearly half of those polled said they were concerned whether they could afford gifts.

And according to the Children’s Defense Fund, a nonprofit focused on the wellbeing of all children, more than 1 in 7 — or 10.7 million — children were considered food insecure prior to the pandemic.

Food insecurity is defined as being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.

Local efforts involving youths that were covered by the Eagle last weekend took aim at both problems.

In one story, Seneca Valley high schooler James Manns and his brother, Sean, have been collecting 16-ounce jars of peanut butter for Grace Community Church’s weekend hunger program that distributes food to about 450 children in the school district.

The brothers have collected more than 600 jars, which are given to food insecure students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

In Jackson Township, a number of Seneca Valley High School students and staff members are involved in the No Cost to Shop store, a shop located in the senior high school that enables students in grades seven to 12 who need clothing, food or other items to set up a private time to shop and get what they need.

Currently, Community Based Vocational Technical (CBVT) and Vocational Readiness students are running the store, taking inventory, checking donation boxes and getting work experience.

And finally, local teenagers volunteered at the Lighthouse Foundation’s Toy Shoppe, which held an event Saturday during which parents who could not afford Christmas presents for their children were able to select six free gifts and get them wrapped.

Patrick Mico, a 15-year-old from Adams Township, said this was the third year he’s volunteered at the event.

“It makes me appreciate what I have and what I can do,” he said. “The Toy Shoppe makes sure every kid has something to open and something to be happy about on Christmas morning.”

This is a great attitude to have, and we’re glad to see so many young people getting involved in efforts to help other young people in need in their community this holiday season.

— NCD