“We are going to have pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving,” was a child’s gleeful response to the food brought to the family last November.

Nancy Essary clutched a white box with a cellophane-covered window Thursday as an example of the boxes which held the pumpkin pies as she celebrated the efforts of the people and businesses in Diana to support the children in the New Diana Schools.

In recognition of those efforts, the New Diana School Board and staff had invited many of the 30 groups and individuals who have helped to show their appreciation.

“It takes all of these people to help a child succeed in school,” Mrs. Essary announced to the group. “I am the connector between the community and the school for New Diana.

“Today we are recognizing the support from individuals, from faith-based organizations (especially certain Sunday School classes), private businesses, and nonprofit organizations such as ETCADA in Longview,” Mrs. Essary explained.

Mrs. Essary became choked up with emotion when she began her remarks to the group as she described how their gifts have helped with student needs, whether it was with school supplies, the Angel Tree at Christmas, clothing, board games for family activities, or the summer sack lunch program.

As she has worked for the past seven years as the middle man between the needs of the children and their families and with the resources of the community, Mrs. Essary has learned more and more how much can be done to help the children concentrate on his/her studies.

Sometimes the needs even include drinking water and emergency lighting for a home without power, household goods such as cleaning agents, or school supplies such as backpacks, pencils and pens. All the various individuals and organization which have helped were given a certificate of appreciation for their assistance.

Joseph Alotto with Community in Schools in Marshall also spoke briefly. He explained that C.I.S. extends from the Linden-Kildare district to the north to Conroe to the south, 600 school districts in all.

The group starts with $200 per child from the state to pay the salary of the staff member and to help with a family’s bills. All of the rest of the resources described Thursday are the result of Mrs. Essary’s efforts.

Darlene Dotson of Communities in Schools also commented on the unique situation in Diana with all the support the school receives.

“You are really like one big family the way a community should be,” Ms. Dotson concluded.