Edgewood Students Help The NeedyWhile unemployment numbers are still up and families are just getting by, Edgewood Middle School students are doing their part to help the needy this holiday season.
According to eighth-grader Ryan Goon, the food drive started Monday and goes through Dec. 10. All non-perishable food items and monetary donations collected will go to Combined Community Services or for food boxes for needy families of Edgewood.
Principal JoElla Smyth said each fifth-period class is collecting items, and are in competition against each other. Each food item has a point value. For example, beans are 3 points, 18-ounce box of cereal is 7 points, 5-pound bag of flour is 4 points, 18-ounce jar of peanut butter is 7 points and so on. Students may also bring in diapers, baby shampoo or wipes, personal hygiene products or toiletries.The classes that make their goal, she said, will be invited to a Christmas cookie party during fifth period before winter break. The class that makes the highest percent of their goal will be awarded an ice cream sundae party.
Teacher Linda Burch said in 2008, 441 students qualified for the cookie party. Each students received three homemade cookies.
"The purpose of Edgewood's student council is to provide leadership, and to serve the student body, the school and the community. This experience gives middle schoolers the opportunity to become givers and make a difference in the lives of fellow classmates and their community. Our annual food drive allows students to encourage others and, in doing so, to realize 'it is more blessed to give than receive,'" said Virginia Witzky, Edgewood teacher. The drive is sponsored by the student council.
Smyth said this is the first time Edgewood has put together family food boxes through the food drive. The boxes will contain enough food for a family of four for two weeks. During winter break, some students' families may not have enough to eat. The food boxes will help feed them. Smyth said they expect to help 50 Edgewood families alone this year with the food boxes.
In addition to the food drive, Edgewood is raising money to help provide needy families with gas and grocery cards. A private donor has contributed some money, the parent organization typically chips in and students contribute.
One way the teachers and students collect money is through a special lunch. Teachers and staff bus lunch tables. Students then tip their "waiters", with all the tips going to help the food drive. Students eat on real dinnerware, and all the dishes are washed by teachers and staff. That will take place Dec. 17.
"It is really neat," said Smyth. "They know ahead of time what is happening so they collect money for tips."
Goon said students also go out to the grocery stores and ask people to donate. Eighth-grader Dan Dickerhoff said some students are going out into neighborhoods door to door to collect for the food drive.
Teacher Ben Barkey is known for being very competitive with the food drive, Smyth said. His class has a tradition of winning every year. However, everyone wins in this case.
Barkey said the competition is fun, but the big message they talk about in his class is helping others.
"We do the best we can do," said Barkey. "It's amazing what a 14-year-old can do when they put their mind to it."
"I think it's just really fun how the competition helps," said Dickerhoff.
"The community has been outstanding in supporting (the students') efforts," said Smyth. "... That's the amazing thing about this community. And the students are very persuasive."
"It feels good knowing you are feeding people who need it. It's good," said student Selena Medina.
"The main reason we wanted to do this is to help families who need help and survive over the winter," said student Morgan Ancil.
Each classroom is given a goal based on the number of students in the class. Success is measured by the percentage reached the class went over the goal.
"Each year has gotten bigger," said Barkey. Barkey's class is at 765 percent turned in so far over their goal.
With Edgewood's annual food drive, Smyth said, "We've been told by CCS that we feed the community for the winter."
