Southwest Airlines brings Thanksgiving to needy families at Lake Elementary School

She wraps her little fingers around the top of a 10-pound bag of potatoes half her height and drags it off the table. Hugging it tight, she waddles out the door.

But third-grader Roselyn Bautista doesn't complain. She smiles.

"Sometimes, we don't celebrate," she says while standing next to a friend of her father who lives with the family. He is holding a 12-pound turkey and bags with canned green beans, corn, cranberry sauce, yams and more.

He speaks little English but utters "Thanks for everything," while leaving the cafeteria of Lake Elementary School, near Sahara Avenue and Maryland Parkway.

More than 50 students' families received Thanksgiving ingredients on Tuesday evening so they can cook the full spread on Thursday. The school's community partner, Southwest Airlines, put on the giveaway for the third year, providing more meals this year because of the need.

Linda Gehrig, vice president of the airlines' charity group, Culture Committee, gets glimpses of family struggles during December when the airline provides presents to 90 students. Their wish lists are much different from the ones she remembers having as a child.

"I wish we weren't living in our car," she hears. "I wish my dad would be home for Christmas" or "I wish my family were here from Mexico."

About 85 percent of Lake's students live in poverty, and 72 percent are Hispanic. About half the students who start at Lake leave before the school year ends, demonstrating the unstable lives of these children.

The airline is helping beyond the holiday season this year, providing two bicycles per grade level for the students with best attendance.

School counselor Jennifer Webster coordinated Tuesday's giveaway. It's torturous to pick just 55 families when so many more at the school with 900 students are struggling, she says. Teachers recommend those most in need, she says.

But turkeys still waited Tuesday for parents who never showed, which isn't unusual. Last year, volunteers had to walk some children home, helping to carry their food because parents couldn't come for one reason or another, Gehrig says.

It's hard to take a handout.

But children don't see it that way. Kindergarten student Serene Barraza, clad in pink, has just one thing on her mind.

"Pumpkin pie. Pumpkin pie. I'm thankful for pumpkin pie," she giddily repeats until her mother signals her to stop.

"I'm thankful for shelter," adds her third-grade brother, Paciano.

Contact reporter Trevon Milliard at tmilliard@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0279.