With summer coming, it's difficult to believe that some families may find themselves without adequate food at this time of the year. It seems as though everything is bursting back to life, things are growing, but in reality, this is a time of year when many food pantries find the stock on their shelves diminished as scouts who collect food are on hiatus for the summer, the churches who collect food may have fewer people in the pews, and other organizations find their members away on vacations. Because of that, we are holding a food pantry collection at Proctor School until June 10. Our classroom has a box set up ready to collect donations.
I talked to the students briefly the other day about what they might do to collect food. Sure, they can ask for a can from your pantry or for an extra box of cereal at the grocery store. But wouldn't it be more meaningful if they had to contribute to getting that food, making them realize that food does not just magically materialize on the table? I suggested that they earn each food donation by doing some small chore around the house. Empty the dishwasher, get a can of soup. Weed the patio, earn two boxes of macaroni & cheese. Whatever chores and rewards work for you and your family. I would love to hear from them about what they did to earn their donation to the pantry.
