3rd Graders at Franklin Avenue Elementary School with just some of the food that has been donated for the K-Kids canned food drive. (Photo by Peter Currier)
WESTFIELD- The Franklin Avenue Elementary School’s K-Kids held their first annual can drive for the Westfield Food Pantry.
The drive, which ran from Nov. 13th to Nov. 15th, collected canned soups, canned vegetables, and other non-perishables to benefit those who experience food insecurity during the upcoming holidays.
The Franklin Avenue Elementary School K-Kids, which includes 24 kids and three teachers, were responsible for making announcements, creating posters, and spreading awareness about the food drive throughout the community.
Dozens of cans of vegetables and soups were collected in the three-day drive at the school with a student population of 220 kids. The donations will be picked up on Tuesday and brought to the food pantry.
The K-Kids have additional plans to help out the community in the future as well.
“We made wreaths and we will be walking to The Arbors Assisted Living Center,” says Julie Neuser, a third-grade teacher and one of the three leaders of the K-kids, “we’re going to sing holiday songs and deliver the wreaths to their front doors.”
Students at Franklin Avenue Elementary may join the K-Kids to help out in the community. The group is organized by The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield and The Kiwanis Club.
“I like to help people and I thought it would be fun,” said Melody Rivas, a third-grade student in Ms. Neuser’s class on why she joined the K-Kids.
Other plans by the K-Kids include making holiday cards for the senior citizens at The Arbors and a Spring cleanup next year.
