For the second year in a row, elementary students, under the guidance of educator Amber Brien, helped organize a food drive to benefit the less-fortunate this holiday season.
The third and fourth graders at The Learning Center were behind helping to organize the food drive, according to Brein.
This tradition began last holiday season when students Addie Haviland and Autumn Neumann, now fifth graders, wanted to hold a food drive to help those in need in the community. They helped organize the drive, and in the end a total of 500 items were collected. The donations were split between the Blessing Boxes and the Salvation Army of Bradford.
“Inspired by their great work, and want to help others, I decided to continue the tradition,” Brien said.
This year, the third and fourth grade students made signs to put around the school, talked to their families and counted all of the items as they were donated. Each morning, the students would take turns bringing the newly collected items into Brien’s classroom. The items would be counted during class and students would problem-solve to determine how many more items were needed to reach the class’ goal.
“I originally set our goal at 750, thinking that in two weeks time that the drive would run, it would be a stretch to collect that many items. However, our amazing school family and staff came together and within a week and a half, we collected over 1,000 items,” Brien exclaimed.
This year’s donations will again be divided between the Blessing Boxes of Bradford and Lewis Run, along with the Salvation Army of Bradford.
“When beginning the food drive, I spoke to my students about how fortunate they are, and that it is important, especially around the holidays to give back to those who may be in need,” Brien stated. “As a teacher, my goal has, and always will be, to show the kids that being humble and a good person on the inside is more important than the material things in life.”
Since beginning the donation drive, Brien reports having overheard student realizations concerning individuals who struggle, especially during the holiday seasons. One student stated, “It must be hard to decide if you would rather eat, or brush your teeth,” as well as another heartbreak revelation from a student, who stated, “I never realized people in our area didn’t have food or went to bed without dinner. Could you imagine what the parents would feel like if they couldn’t feed their child?”
The teacher said, “At such a young age they are already realizing how important it is to come together and help those in need. We are fortunate to have such a great school community that believes in creating well rounded students.
“I am honored to be these kiddos teacher, and will continue the food drive each year as it is a great learning experience for all — a lesson you can’t get from a book,” Brien stated in response to her students’ revelations.
At the conclusion of the drive on Tuesday, the third and fourth grade students of the Learning Center collected 1,280 total items, which means the Salvation Army and the Blessing Boxes will receive 640 items each.
