Recently the second graders at North School have been learning about communities and, more specifically, how many things impact a community. One such thing is food insecurity.
Students learned that food insecurity is when people don’t have enough money or access to healthy, affordable food. The second graders decided they wanted to help by holding a food drive for the North School Pantry.
With the help of their teachers, Mrs. Rodenbostel, Mrs. Relyeah, Mrs. Kuehlman, and Mrs. Chacon, the students went to work. They created a flyer to share throughout the school. They listed the types of items and asked the school community at North to bring donations to its second-grade classrooms. A small group of second-graders even recorded a “commercial” about the Food Drive, asking students and staff to participate.
“It’s outstanding,” said Michelle Rodenbostel, a second-grade teacher at North. “The students are so excited about the food drive. They stand at the door each day and watch other students come in with donations.”
Rodenbostel said that parents have donated, too. “It’s really cool to see everyone come together.”
When the students were asked about the donations from around the school, Ashton Burd, a second grader, said, “I thought it was really kind of everyone.”
Ashton also participated in the video “commercial” sent to other classes in the school. He added that he always wanted to be in a commercial.
Another second-grader, Areej Omari, thought the food drive was an ideal way to help her school community. “I liked that we got to help people who didn’t have money to buy something and that people could come and get it without paying.”
The food drive also allowed the students to experience satisfaction and even joy. Second grader Bryce Spurny said, “It makes me feel happy,” he explained. “All my life, I wanted to be a better kid, and when I heard about this from Ms. Rodenbostel, I wanted to join it so I could be that better kid I wanted to be once in a while.”
Many second graders, including Emily Palomo, donated items to the food drive. Emily said that the food drive gave her a sense of school pride. “I like to help the families in our school, and it makes me feel happy and proud that I’m in this school.”
The food donations collected will be stocked in the North School Pantry, and with the assistance of the school’s social worker, Mrs. Paris, items will be shared with families in need.