A cozy blanket, mom’s cooking, coming to America, a sword you earned 1,000 tickets to get?
There’s a lot of things worth giving thanks for, kids at Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence say.
With Thanksgiving on Thursday, it’s officially time to start thinking about this stuff. Go! got a jump start last week with a visit to the Boys and Girls Club group at Hillcrest School, 1045 Hilltop Drive. We quizzed 20 kids, who gave thanks for much more than 20 things (Boys and Girls Club notwithstanding — after all, that’s what they were enjoying when we caught them).
Here’s what they had to say when we asked them, “What are you thankful for?”

photo by: Richard Gwin

We asked Boys and Girls Club members at Hillcrest afterschool program what they were thankful for. From left are Aquib Adnan, 8; Vivian Hill, 7; Maleah Phommaseng, 11; Helen Henny, 6; and Zoe Williams, 7.

photo by: Sara Shepherd

“I’m thankful for my parents and teachers because they teach us. And we need to know that stuff as we grow older.” — Joohye Oh, 9

photo by: Sara Shepherd

“I’m thankful for my family and friends because my friends are usually always nice to me, and they help me whenever I need help. And my family because they love me, they put a roof over my head and feed me. I’m also thankful for school because I get help to learn.” — Mckynzie Wright, 10

photo by: Sara Shepherd

“My parents, my family because they love me, they take care of me, they make me food. ‘Star Wars’ because it’s a really good movie.” — Logan Branam, 9

photo by: Sara Shepherd

“I’m thankful for each day … that I get to have — I live like it’s (the) last, but I’m thankful for each day I get after. Also, my parents, family, my dog and that I’m able to read and play.” — Winona Gayton, 10

photo by: Sara Shepherd

“Toys because I like to play with them.” — Jasmine Carrasco, 6

photo by: Sara Shepherd

“That my mom gives me food every day. And if it’s hot, I’m always asking, and she gives me water.” — Megh Patel, 5

photo by: Sara Shepherd

“I was at Bonkers in Topeka, and I really wanted a sword, and it took 1,000 tickets. I was very thankful that I tried my hardest, and I got 1,000 tickets, and I won that sword. I’m also thankful that I get to eat macaroni and cheese at Christmas.” — Orion Hamlin, 5

photo by: Sara Shepherd

“My snowman blanket because it’s comfy and soft and cuddly. And when I get to go wherever I want to around Christmas sometimes.” — Clare Evans, 5

photo by: Sara Shepherd

“Boys and Girls Club because I get to do my homework, and we get to watch movies, and we get some fun stuff.” — Gamal Assas, 8

photo by: Sara Shepherd

“Boys and Girls Club because Boys and Girls Club is fun and you get to do stuff like play outside … and watch movies.” — Hepanna Gayton, 7

photo by: Sara Shepherd

“For Boys and Girls Club. If I’m at home, I’ll be bored … they help me with my homework.” — Aqib Adnan, 8

photo by: Sara Shepherd

“For coming to America because if I hadn’t come to America I wouldn’t see my friends.” — YeEun Jun, 8

photo by: Sara Shepherd

“My friends because they’re nice to me. My family because I like them.” — Shivani Patel, 7

photo by: Sara Shepherd

“Let’s see — me, dad and mom, my sister, my brother, my house, my land, my life, my trees (they help you breathe), my brain (it helps me think), the principal and Boys and Girls Club.” — Jooseok Oh, 7

“I’m thankful for my dad, my mom, my brother, my houses, my friends, air, water, my school, land, and that’s probably all.” — Winton Anderson, 6

photo by: Sara Shepherd

“My mom, my brother, my sister, my dog, my friends and Boys and Girls Club.” — Rose Tetu, 6

photo by: Sara Shepherd

“I’m thankful for my mom and dad, and I’m thankful for Boys and Girls Club, and I’m thankful for my grandma and grandpa.” — Maebelle Hamlin, 6

photo by: Sara Shepherd

“Life. Because if I wasn’t alive right now I would not be doing this.” — Johnathan Subramanian, 7

photo by: Sara Shepherd

“For BGC because we do fun stuff all the time … and I’m thankful that I’m alive.” — Timothy Sharov, 7

photo by: Sara Shepherd

“Family. And my little brother because he plays with me.” — Jai Badal, 7