Coral Glades High School accepts challenge to collect food for seniors in need
It can start small with pennies collected in a jar. Or it could be a multi-state plan worthy of coverage on CNN.
However philanthrophy starts, it should start now with our children.
The Pantry of Broward is a big believer in getting children involved in helping others. The group, which helps low-income seniors put food on their tables and get transportation to appointments, has teamed up with two Broward County schools to help kids learn the ropes of philanthropy.
Here's their story about how students at Coral Glades High School responded to the challenge of helping others:
The project was organized by recent alum Chris Harris, a sophomore at the University of Florida. As the president of the DECA chapter at Coral Glades, Chris has helped collect food for clients of the Pantry of Broward and reached out to Alex Sica, the incoming DECA chapter president, about getting the chapter involved.
Last year’s DECA project included updates on Facebook, parties and contests, including one that challenged members to build something with the cans.
It's nearly certain that the students will have fun with this lesson on giving back.
What St. Mark’s Episocal has accomplished to date:
The pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classes have been busily collecting their Pennies for Pasta and Nickels for Noodles. On Tuesday, 21 students from seventh and eighth grade will be at the Pantry to get their arms around why such an agency exists. Their morning will be comprised of packing the food boxes that are delivered to the seniors. The children seem to be more excited about the chance to really “be there” and to “do something that will make a difference” than being free from the confines of school for two hours.
The first-, second-, and third-grades have decided to decorate the boxes that the older students will be using to pack the food. The students are hoping that their drawings will bring a smile to someone’s face, joy to their day and let them know that someone they’ve never met really does care.
The fourth-grades are having a contest to see who can bring the most peanut-butter and jelly.
Dress-down day equals big bucks:
On Sept. 25, we had a school-wide free dress day --- each student who brought in $1 for The Pantry was excused from wearing a school uniform that day. Those days are always fun, but that Friday we knew that we were doing it, not just for fun, but to help other people in need.
The student body and the faculty raised almost $500 from the event.
Gretchen Day-Bryant has a son in high school and a daughter in middle school. She’s lived to tell about the struggles of juggling little kids and work.
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Cindy Kent Fort Lauderdale mother of three. Her kids span in ages from teenager to 20s.
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Kyara Lomer Camarena has a 2-year-old son, Copelan, and a brand new baby. 
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