The Emmanuel Church of the Nazerene's Vacation Bible School students sorted pounds of beans, added barley and bags of spices, and decorated dozens of paper bags to hold everything.

Then, they did something much greater: They helped feed Wareham's needy families.

On Thursday, August 30, a group of students presented the bags, which contained a whole lot of love along with all the ingredients for a delicious bean soup, to Turning Point program director Lee MacDonald.

Turning Point, which is housed in the church, is a nonprofit dedicated to helping the homeless and near-homeless in Wareham and the surrounding communities.

"They had a good time, and this was something they could give back," said Michelle Ruiz, director of the church's Vacation Bible School.

Noting that the theme of the program was "where kids shine God's light," Ruiz explained: "This was their way of shining God's light."

MacDonald was grateful.

"Do you know how many people these are going to feed?" she asked the children, pointing out that the recipe makes eight, one-cup servings. "This is great!'