COLUMBIANA — For more than 30 years, Crestview Middle School students have had a standing lunchtime date with their peers at Springfield Local Intermediate School right before Christmas.

This year, under the watchful eye of an inflatable Frosty the Snowman and employees at the Columbiana Burger King, the two student bodies participated in a community gift exchange for needy families in their respective communities. Melanie Workman, a guidance counselor at Springfield Local, said that she and husband Scott Workman, who was an eighth-grade science teacher at Crestview, began the exchange in 1995, after recognizing a growing need in both communities.

Scott, who retired around a decade ago, may no longer be involved, but holding down the tradition on behalf of Crestview are Rachel Lattanzo, who is the student council adviser and a sixth-grade math teacher, and Matt Evans, also a Crestview teacher and Springfield Local alumni.

Students within the districts compete to donate items for a chance to load the buses and travel to Columbiana to exchange the goods and have lunch with each other. Items collected range include toys, games, nonperishable food, baby items (diapers, bottles, blankets, etc.), clothing and school supplies. As Workman explained, each community compiles a list of needs and the other school collects them. Then they swap on their gift exchange day.

Having the exchange at the Burger King was a recent change in the tradition. She said initially the schools would have their exchange on campus, alternating district locations each year. However, about a decade ago, the lunch opportunity was added.

“It is amazing to see kids helping families in need during the holidays,” Workman said, adding that it helps them to gain empathy, which isn’t necessarily routinely taught in a classroom.

Lattanzo is especially fond of the idea of trading the items, which allows recipients to still remain anonymous among their home schools.

Over the three decades, it is estimated that more than 30,000 gift items have been exchanged as part of the program.