For more than a decade, Mount Madonna School (MMS) second grade students have partnered with the Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County to collect non-perishable food items for the organization’s Holiday Food and Fund Drive.
“Please join the effort and help second graders lead this food drive by donating food to feed hungry people in the local community,” sad teacher Karlee LaHue. “Second Harvest reaches more than 65,000 people per month in Watsonville to provide access to nutritious food. They also partner with over 80 agencies to engage the community, teach nutrition classes, distribute food and help people to access food assistance.”
Food donation barrels are located at upper campus near the school office and the lower school campus, near the first grade classroom/Farm House office. Monetary donations can be placed in the labelled collection container at the lower campus bus stop or accepted at the upper campus office. Donations will be collected through December 20.
Items that are most needed include: canned fruits, vegetables and meat, whole grain rice, cereals and oats. Monetary donations can also be accepted at the upper campus office or lower school bus stop. According to Second Harvest, each dollar donated can provide three meals!
“Through these efforts second graders at Mount Madonna School are learning the value of generosity, effort and community,” said LaHue. “This provides them with an opportunity to learn more about hunger needs that face our local communities and ways they can use their power to lead an effort. Second graders have a growing understanding that small groups can come together and make a significant difference.”
