In 27 working visits to the Food Pantry, Waimea Country School students re-bagged 4,273 pounds of rice. (Photo courtesy of Waimea Country School)
MEDIA RELEASE
Waimea Country School 4th/5th/6th grade students, with teachers Laurel Matsuda and Nanci Mahoney and Food Pantry Coordinator Ann Lum, on their final day of the school year of volunteering at the Annunciation Emergency Food Pantry.
Students volunteered each Tuesday throughout the year, re-bagging 4,273 pounds of rice into 5 pound bags to include in food boxes handed out to those in need in our community.
In addition, Waimea Country School families donated food each week from their own pantries and gardens, totaling 1,154 pounds for the year.
“Through regular volunteerism, students learn the value of contributing to their community. The work they have done made a real difference, and they know that,†said Amy Salling, Head of School.
“We have come to depend on the student volunteers from Waimea Country School, and we appreciate their hard work and commitment,†Lum said.
This is the third year of the community service relationship between Waimea Country School and the Annunciation Emergency Food Pantry, and both organizations have plans to continue with this rewarding partnership next year.
— Find out more:
www.waimeacountryschool.org
This is such wonderful way to impress young children there are many others’ in their community that are in need – not only the childs’ household if such is the case … to handle food in this way also instill respect for food and the value of nutrition distributed to the needy is self esteem building … wonderful program to get children involved in … the amounts of food donated from their own households shows’ them generosity and kokua is needed for people not to go without food … for those that come from a household that has garden vegetables to contribute – that impression make a child aware of the value that comes with working the soil – sharing the produce really impress the value of their own gardening efforts.
When I was a kid in grade school we’d get packets of vegetable seeds and I’d try putting around with “victory garden” efforts to supplement the calabasa-pepper-pumpkin-watercress vegetables in our meals with long beans-lettuce-carrots-green bell peppers-tomatoes that usually came from the market-store … made me feel good to put something on the kitchen counter to contribute for the evening meal.
Thank you for the positive comments. I agree that this is a highly valuable program that both supports the community through the commitment to the Food Pantry but also builds the character of our students by providing them with an opportunity to make a real difference for real people in our community. Ann Lum, the program director, came by the school this morning to present our students with a certificate of commendation and to let them know who appreciative they all are of our service. We’ll continue with our 4th year of the partnership in the fall!