RICEBORO — The ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and the Cultivated Pearls Foundation were the happy recipients of serenades at the Liberty County Pre-K Center.

As the young preschoolers finished picking out a book and a toy provided by the groups, they gathered to sing a Christmas carol as a show of gratitude.

The Cultivated Pearls Foundation purchased books, toys and food to bring to the pre-K center and four classes of tots.

The women of AKA and Cultured Pearls are there every Friday to make sure the kids have enough to eat over the weekend. They stuff their childhood hunger initiative power packs, CHIPPS for short, two breakfast items, two lunch items, two snack items, a drink, along with milk and vegetables. They partner with the United Way to provide the milk and vegetables.

“We know they eat when they’re here,” said Annie Andrews.

The CHIPPS, she added, are meant to cover their nutrition over the weekend.

Riceboro mayor pro tem Louise Brown offered her thanks to the ladies of AKA and Cultured Pearls.

“Because we’re one of the smaller cities, it really touches my heart to know that they are so willing to come,” she said. “It is amazing the great work they are doing for our children. Even though we are small and tucked away, our children are not forgotten.”

Brown was especially to see the books for the kids to take home, especially with the number of children who currently are struggling to read at their grade level.

“It lets me know the sorority takes what they do very seriously,” she said.