Before Thanksgiving break, Mrs. Lindsay Bennett’s 5th grade class had an amazing conversation about helping others. The children shared the ways that their families do this already. After reading (one of Wickliffe’s favorite authors/poets) Michael J. Rosen‘s new poem about childhood hunger, the kids identified a specific interest in helping to fight hunger. Here are some quotes from that conversation:
- “When listening to the poem, it made me realize all the stuff that we have, and all the stuff that I have. They should have the same.” –Bryce
- “We can go downstairs and eat whatever we want, but they wake up with growling stomachs.” –Lorenzo
- “The poem is saying that you can do it. It inspires you to go out and make a change.” – Peter
- “It makes me want to do something to help!” –Mary
After these conversations, fellow Wickliffe 5th grade teacher Sarah Oberlin and Lindsay Bennett met with one of UA’s former teachers and Service Learning expert, Mrs. Jane Hubbard. After researching and working with Jane, they made a few decisions. They thought that a field trip would be a great way to kick off a service learning project.
Both classes visited the Mid-Ohio Foodbank for a tour on Monday, December 15. They learned more about their mission and started to understand the magnitude of hunger in central Ohio. That same day, they also be visited Lifecare Alliance to volunteer. Lifecare Alliance serves older adults via Meals on Wheels, but also has other community outreach such as: Groceries-to-Go Pantry, Visiting Nurses, among other things. Wickliffe students helped bag pet food, make cards and favors for their clients, and help out in the café and kitchen. The teachers and children were very excited for this opportunity!
The teachers think it’s really important that we help on an ongoing basis, instead of a “one and done” sort of thing, so Sarah Oberlin and Lindsay Bennett also met with Lamar Graham, the Director of Heart to Heart food pantry in Grandview. Heart to Heart serves many people in our immediate area. They are small and rely heavily on the generosity of local community members, businesses, and the Mid-Ohio Food Bank. After asking Lamar Graham about immediate needs, he said that being able to pass out toys brings a lot of joy to their clients.
Both classes worked together to host a Toy Drive during the weeks before winter break. Some of the kids asked parents for extra chores, so that they can earn money to purchase a toy for Heart to Heart. When the drive was over, the Wickliffe students collected over 400 toys, books, and donations! Both classes hope to visit the Heart to Heart Food Pantry sometime in January, and then possibly continue with optional monthly after-school volunteer opportunities.
All the kids in Mrs. Oberlin and Bennett’s classes want to thank the Wickliffe Community for all the support!!
Check out these websites more information:
- Heart to Heart Food Pantry – http://fcchurch.com/heart-to-heart/
- Mid-Ohio Food Bank – http://www.midohiofoodbank.org
- Lifecare Alliance – http://www.lifecarealliance.org
