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Food Drives Begin in Schools, Extend to Community

Dec. 12, 2011 ~ Tens of thousands of cans, boxes and jars of food have been collected by Olathe Public Schools students as part of food drives in their schools. Many schools continued their traditions of helping the local community or extending a hand outside the immediate area by contributing to larger food pantries.

Arbor Creek's food drive

Arbor Creek Elementary students have organized a canned food drive each year since their school opened 10 years ago. This year, the goal was to collect 1,800 food items for Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, according to administrative secretary Cindy Butler. During the week-long activity, students brought in 2,202 cans, boxes and jars of food, far surpassing their goal.

 

Photo by Erica Derrington
Pioneer Trail's panther helped with sorting

Pioneer Trail Middle School’s annual Turkey Challenge helps families in that attendance area. Students and staff donated food items for a traditional Thanksgiving meal (canned green beans, mashed potato flakes, stuffing mix, etc.). Parents, Hy-Vee and Wal-Mart donated turkeys for 125 food baskets. In addition, Principal Michael Wolgast said there were five carts of food left over which were distributed among the 125 baskets. The Pioneer Trail Panther helped sort donated food.

 

Submitted photo
Frontier Trail students took a creative approach

Leadership students at Frontier Trail Middle School got creative in their plea for canned goods. Thinking outside the box (can) seemed to work because their fellow classmates donated 2,323 food items for the Johnson County Christmas Bureau food drive held Nov. 7-11. In addition to the food drive at school, those attending girls basketball games that week were encouraged to bring a can of food as their admission. The leadership students took a field trip to the Johnson County Christmas Bureau store to help with set-up on Nov. 28.

 

Submitted photo
Forest View's Fox Council organized a food drive

The Fox Council, Forest View Elementary School’s fifth-grade leadership group, recently organized a food drive to benefit 30 families in the Santa Fe Trail Middle School attendance area. “On behalf of Santa Fe Trail’s families and staff, we thank you for the amazing food drive to support our families in need,” said Santa Fe Trail Principal Kerry Lane.

 

Submitted photo