A Lesson in Giving This Holiday Season

The Learning Experience, a child care center in Concord, is inviting its children and the community to give back this Thanksgiving -- and throughout the holiday season -- with an upcoming charity drive and curriculum focused on philanthropy.

The drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, Nov. 23 at The Learning Experience at 130 Baker Ave. Extension here in Concord. TLE Concord will be accepting for a handful of area charities, including Toys for Tots, Operation Overcoat and the local food pantry. 

In addition to helping children and families in need, the drive is part of the child care and early education center's recently launched philanthropy curriculum. 

Some lessons occur in classrooms throughout the center, where young students sit in circles and roll blue plastic balls to one another, sharing their ideas about sharing -- monster trucks, food, clothes and stories are among the children's ideas about what they could give. 

Other lessons in philanthropy focus on making the concept accessible to young minds. Giving to Buddy Dog in Sudbury, sharing nap mats and donating toys and electronics that will be replaced with newer things this holiday season. 

"With philanthropy we focus on giving because they're alive, not because feel you bad," said Mary Sheys, the center's director. "Everyone has an open heart, but were so busy we don't always have these conversations. ... It's changed everything."

Charities for which TLE Concord will be accepting donations this Saturday include:

• The Lion’s Club of Greater Boston - Accepting eyeglasses, prescription sunglasses
• Shelter Alliance: Serving victims of domestic violence - Collecting cell phones, iPods, iPads
• The Concord Food Pantry - Accepting condiments, canned fruit and proteins, spaghetti sauce, coffee and tea
• Operation Overcoat - Collecting hats, gloves, mittens, coats, jackets and ski pants
• Toys for Tots - Unwrapped new gifts