60 families will eat for a week, thanks to McAuliffe Elementary
December 21, 2010
By Christopher Huber
As students and parents filtered into McAuliffe Elementary School Dec. 10 to begin their Friday, dozens plopped bags of groceries into the seven round bins on the sidewalk. School ASB leaders waved signs and danced to draw attention to the final day of the week-long food drive, hoping for one last surge of donations.
The energetic efforts paid off, as the school brought in 1,529 items that day, more than the four previous days combined, said Kim Robinson, a parent helper. In all, the students and their families donated a whopping 2,380 pounds (2,958 items) of food in five days.
That will feed approximately 60 families for a week this holiday season, according to Redmond-based Hopelink, the drive’s beneficiary.
McAuliffe ASB students Amy Wisegarver, left, and Emily Vu, jump with excitement while parents and students bring food donations to the school’s main entrance area Dec. 10. Lizzie Iwicki (far right in red) encourages people to donate. McAuliffe families donated enough food to feed about 60 families for a week, according to Hopelink. Photo by Christopher Huber
“I thought it was awesome. The whole school was buzzing,” said Karen Burrington, a sixth-grade ASB secretary. “I’m proud of how into the competition they got.”
McAuliffe announced the results at its sing-along assembly Dec. 17. The drive, like many school donation collections, was a competition between grades, said student organizers, but there were no prizes to be won.
The school’s third grade won with a surge of giving on the last day. The grade started Friday in fifth place, but that day they brought in more than 800 items, bringing their total to 959 items.
Other than helping the community, the incentive was to see which grade could fill in the most red on its thermometer poster in the hallway.
“I knew McAuliffe would do really well,” Burrington said. “We shattered the record.”
Those at Hopelink also were surprised at the youth’s initiative this year.
“For the kids to take it on for themselves, it’s just an amazing show of community spirit,” said Kris Betker, of Hopelink. “And we are very grateful.”
Reach Reporter Christopher Huber at chuber@isspress.com, or 392-6434, ext.242.
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