The Student Council at Guilderland Elementary recently held its annual food drive, collecting a total of 922 non-perishable items for the Guilderland Food Pantry and the Caring Closet. Students in grades K-5 worked together to help others in need, albeit with some friendly competition.
Classrooms raced against each other to see who could gather the most items. At the end of the food drive, student council members went to classrooms, picked up the donated items and placed them in shopping carts that were labeled by grade level. Items were then counted and packaged up for their final destinations.
The hard work of students, their families and the school community culminated in a “Giving Assembly” on the morning of April 5. Guilderland councilwoman and Caring Closet founder Amanda Beedle was in attendance, along with John McConnell, Executive Director of the Guilderland Food Pantry, Principal Allan Lockwood, GES students and staff. The assembly focused on the themes of teamwork and supporting others, two important concepts that students gained insight to as they worked to help their fellow school community members and two local organizations.
Following the assembly, a group of fifth grade students loaded boxes full of donations onto a school bus to go to the Guilderland Food Pantry. Of the 922 items donated, 703 went to the Guilderland Food Pantry while 219 items went to the Caring Closet.
Thank you to the GES student council, fellow students, families, and staff for their remarkable generosity and support.