As the scanners beeped on the Pick 'N Save registers Saturday, Ironton Junior High students bagged the groceries.

Saturday afternoon, two groups of students came to bag groceries, give shopping carts to incoming customers and take donations for a student that hasn't been able to attend school this year -- Shane Jones.

The 13-year-old boy has been battling leukemia since he was four years old. He is currently a patient at Children's Hospital in Columbus.

"We received a $100 donation today," said IJHS principal Jerry Watson. "People have been very generous. The kids have also been very pleasant when greeting the customers, and they're really enjoying themselves."

The day's activities were a project of the Kids Care Club. Since its beginnings last year, the club has grown from

about 15 members to 67. The club is funded through Operation Gear-Up.

"I want to help Shane," said John McClellan, a seventh grade student. "Everyone in Ironton misses him. We hope he gets back and gets better."

McClellan and Shane have played sports such as baseball, basketball and football together. He said even though Shane has leukemia, he keeps fighting and doesn't let his disease get to him.

Seventh-grade student Jessica Weaver bagged groceries. Sara Jones, Shane's younger sister, is her best friend.

"She's tough," she said. "I'm proud to call the Joneses my second family. I wouldn't give them up for anything."

"I know Shane is going to get through this," said Rachel Walker, an eighth-grader. "He's a strong person who will fight."

"We hope this will teach them other things to do on Saturdays," said Carol Fugitt, the students' Gear-Up adviser. "We want to teach them responsibility toward their community and toward other kids. It's a win-win situation because they can add this to their resumes and college applications."

"We hope what we're doing helps in some form," she continued. "We're thinking about the Jones family."