by [Music]
according to hunger counts Canada every
according to hunger counts Canada every month over 800,000 Canadians use food
month over 800,000 Canadians use food
month over 800,000 Canadians use food bank services more than 300,000 of these
bank services more than 300,000 of these
bank services more than 300,000 of these people come from Ontario and 34% 34%
people come from Ontario and 34% 34%
people come from Ontario and 34% 34% represent children and youth the
represent children and youth the
represent children and youth the Ministry of Education tells us that 19
Ministry of Education tells us that 19
Ministry of Education tells us that 19 percent of our elementary school
percent of our elementary school
percent of our elementary school students are living in low-income homes
students are living in low-income homes
students are living in low-income homes at the school that I taught at last year
at the school that I taught at last year
at the school that I taught at last year that figure was increased to 42% what
that figure was increased to 42% what
that figure was increased to 42% what that meant was that in my grade 5/6
that meant was that in my grade 5/6
that meant was that in my grade 5/6 class 11 out of every 25 out of my 25
class 11 out of every 25 out of my 25
class 11 out of every 25 out of my 25 students were living in low-income
students were living in low-income
students were living in low-income households they were coming to school
households they were coming to school
households they were coming to school every day dealing with the impacts of
every day dealing with the impacts of
every day dealing with the impacts of poverty and as a school in a community
poverty and as a school in a community
poverty and as a school in a community we did everything that we could to rally
we did everything that we could to rally
we did everything that we could to rally around and support them through
around and support them through
around and support them through community initiatives like the breakfast
community initiatives like the breakfast
community initiatives like the breakfast program that provides a healthy meal to
program that provides a healthy meal to
program that provides a healthy meal to start their day to supplementing their
start their day to supplementing their
start their day to supplementing their lunches with healthy fruits and
lunches with healthy fruits and
lunches with healthy fruits and vegetables and at the classroom level by
vegetables and at the classroom level by
vegetables and at the classroom level by doing things like having an outdoor
doing things like having an outdoor
doing things like having an outdoor classroom garden where teachers where
classroom garden where teachers where
classroom garden where teachers where students could learn how to grow their
students could learn how to grow their
students could learn how to grow their own food and then taking that inside and
own food and then taking that inside and
own food and then taking that inside and learning how to cook and bake during our
learning how to cook and bake during our
learning how to cook and bake during our math class we had a very open
math class we had a very open
math class we had a very open conversation about the struggles and the
conversation about the struggles and the
conversation about the struggles and the challenges that they faced every day so
challenges that they faced every day so
challenges that they faced every day so it wasn’t any surprise to me then that
it wasn’t any surprise to me then that
it wasn’t any surprise to me then that when I introduced the grade five social
when I introduced the grade five social
when I introduced the grade five social studies project that so many students
studies project that so many students
studies project that so many students were interested in these topics so the
were interested in these topics so the
were interested in these topics so the project asked them to in small groups
project asked them to in small groups
project asked them to in small groups take a look at significant social or
take a look at significant social or
take a look at significant social or environmental issue to look at the ways
environmental issue to look at the ways
environmental issue to look at the ways that the different levels of government
that the different levels of government
that the different levels of government had addressed this to talk about
had addressed this to talk about
had addressed this to talk about community supports that were in place
community supports that were in place
community supports that were in place and then within their group to develop
and then within their group to develop
and then within their group to develop an action plan where they would look at
an action plan where they would look at
an action plan where they would look at raising awareness about this issue and
raising awareness about this issue and
raising awareness about this issue and they would look for some type of action
they would look for some type of action
they would look for some type of action that they could actually carry out I had
that they could actually carry out I had
that they could actually carry out I had three boys that were really interested
three boys that were really interested
three boys that were really interested in looking at food insecurity in
in looking at food insecurity in
in looking at food insecurity in chatham-kent specifically within their
chatham-kent specifically within their
chatham-kent specifically within their own community they wanted to know why it
own community they wanted to know why it
own community they wanted to know why it was that people within their
was that people within their
was that people within their neighborhood were struggling to have
neighborhood were struggling to have
neighborhood were struggling to have enough to
enough to
enough to eat they wondered if that had anything
eat they wondered if that had anything
eat they wondered if that had anything to do with where they were shopping many
to do with where they were shopping many
to do with where they were shopping many people had experiences with going to the
people had experiences with going to the
people had experiences with going to the local variety store to get their basic
local variety store to get their basic
local variety store to get their basic necessities and the boys wondered why
necessities and the boys wondered why
necessities and the boys wondered why they were doing that when they knew
they were doing that when they knew
they were doing that when they knew these items to be overpriced and often
these items to be overpriced and often
these items to be overpriced and often outdated and as we had these
outdated and as we had these
outdated and as we had these conversations and the boys dug deeper
conversations and the boys dug deeper
conversations and the boys dug deeper into their research they came across a
into their research they came across a
into their research they came across a term that was very interesting to them
term that was very interesting to them
term that was very interesting to them and that was of a food desert and for
and that was of a food desert and for
and that was of a food desert and for anybody that’s never heard of this
anybody that’s never heard of this
anybody that’s never heard of this concept a food desert is best defined as
concept a food desert is best defined as
concept a food desert is best defined as an area within a low-income neighborhood
an area within a low-income neighborhood
an area within a low-income neighborhood where residents do not have access to a
where residents do not have access to a
where residents do not have access to a car and they have to walk over 750
car and they have to walk over 750
car and they have to walk over 750 meters to access affordable healthy food
meters to access affordable healthy food
meters to access affordable healthy food we had just finished up our measurement
we had just finished up our measurement
we had just finished up our measurement and so all of the students had an idea
and so all of the students had an idea
and so all of the students had an idea of what 750 meters looked like and they
of what 750 meters looked like and they
of what 750 meters looked like and they were pretty sure that their neighborhood
were pretty sure that their neighborhood
were pretty sure that their neighborhood qualified as being a food desert based
qualified as being a food desert based
qualified as being a food desert based on this criteria so we got onto Google
on this criteria so we got onto Google
on this criteria so we got onto Google my maps and we worked on a collaborative
my maps and we worked on a collaborative
my maps and we worked on a collaborative project here where the students tracked
project here where the students tracked
project here where the students tracked their homes and any of the yellow
their homes and any of the yellow
their homes and any of the yellow markers indicate a student home where
markers indicate a student home where
markers indicate a student home where they have a vehicle either in their
they have a vehicle either in their
they have a vehicle either in their household or within their direct support
household or within their direct support
household or within their direct support network so getting to a grocery store
network so getting to a grocery store
network so getting to a grocery store isn’t really too much of a challenge any
isn’t really too much of a challenge any
isn’t really too much of a challenge any of the red markers indicate student
of the red markers indicate student
of the red markers indicate student homes where they rely on public transit
homes where they rely on public transit
homes where they rely on public transit or walking to get to the grocery store
or walking to get to the grocery store
or walking to get to the grocery store then they classified the grocery stores
then they classified the grocery stores
then they classified the grocery stores within chatham-kent
within chatham-kent
within chatham-kent so through conversations with people who
so through conversations with people who
so through conversations with people who had experienced grocery shopping and by
had experienced grocery shopping and by
had experienced grocery shopping and by price comparing through fliers they
price comparing through fliers they
price comparing through fliers they determined which grocery stores were out
determined which grocery stores were out
determined which grocery stores were out of their budget and those are identified
of their budget and those are identified
of their budget and those are identified in green as well as grocery stores that
in green as well as grocery stores that
in green as well as grocery stores that didn’t have all of their basic
didn’t have all of their basic
didn’t have all of their basic necessities so perhaps a market finally
necessities so perhaps a market finally
necessities so perhaps a market finally they they mapped the grocery stores that
they they mapped the grocery stores that
they they mapped the grocery stores that they consider to be affordable these
they consider to be affordable these
they consider to be affordable these would be the grocery stores of choice
would be the grocery stores of choice
would be the grocery stores of choice for most of the families if proximity
for most of the families if proximity
for most of the families if proximity wasn’t a factor we took the measurement
wasn’t a factor we took the measurement
wasn’t a factor we took the measurement tool that exists within Google my maps
tool that exists within Google my maps
tool that exists within Google my maps and we actually tracked the data to find
and we actually tracked the data to find
and we actually tracked the data to find out the distance between the red homes
out the distance between the red homes
out the distance between the red homes in the blue stores and what they found
in the blue stores and what they found
in the blue stores and what they found was not at all surprising the fact that
was not at all surprising the fact that
was not at all surprising the fact that many of them were walking six kilometers
many of them were walking six kilometers
many of them were walking six kilometers with their families to get there
with their families to get there
with their families to get there food was not a surprise because this was
food was not a surprise because this was
food was not a surprise because this was the reality and an experience that they
the reality and an experience that they
the reality and an experience that they had gone through many times the piece
had gone through many times the piece
had gone through many times the piece that really shocked them and that they
that really shocked them and that they
that really shocked them and that they were upset about though was that we had
were upset about though was that we had
were upset about though was that we had just spent all of this time looking at
just spent all of this time looking at
just spent all of this time looking at the roles and the responsibilities of
the roles and the responsibilities of
the roles and the responsibilities of government and citizens within a
government and citizens within a
government and citizens within a community ensuring that everybody has
community ensuring that everybody has
community ensuring that everybody has their basic needs met and they weren’t
their basic needs met and they weren’t
their basic needs met and they weren’t really convinced that that was being met
really convinced that that was being met
really convinced that that was being met within their own neighborhood and so at
within their own neighborhood and so at
within their own neighborhood and so at that point what started as a small group
that point what started as a small group
that point what started as a small group project really turned into a collective
project really turned into a collective
project really turned into a collective action the students were all on a
action the students were all on a
action the students were all on a mission they wanted to raise awareness
mission they wanted to raise awareness
mission they wanted to raise awareness about food accessibility in their
about food accessibility in their
about food accessibility in their neighborhood and they wanted to do
neighborhood and they wanted to do
neighborhood and they wanted to do something to solve the problem I wasn’t
something to solve the problem I wasn’t
something to solve the problem I wasn’t really sure what this would look like
really sure what this would look like
really sure what this would look like but a couple days later one of my
but a couple days later one of my
but a couple days later one of my students Cruz came in and a friend of
students Cruz came in and a friend of
students Cruz came in and a friend of Cruz’s home he has something called a
Cruz’s home he has something called a
Cruz’s home he has something called a little Free Library
little Free Library
little Free Library this is a book lending system it’s a
this is a book lending system it’s a
this is a book lending system it’s a wooden box anybody can put a book in
wooden box anybody can put a book in
wooden box anybody can put a book in anybody can take a book out and Cruz and
anybody can take a book out and Cruz and
anybody can take a book out and Cruz and his mom had been doing some research
his mom had been doing some research
his mom had been doing some research online and they came across something
online and they came across something
online and they came across something called a little free pantry and Cruz
called a little free pantry and Cruz
called a little free pantry and Cruz pitched the idea to the to the class and
pitched the idea to the to the class and
pitched the idea to the to the class and he thought perhaps this could be a
he thought perhaps this could be a
he thought perhaps this could be a solution so essentially it’s again a
solution so essentially it’s again a
solution so essentially it’s again a wooden structure within a neighborhood
wooden structure within a neighborhood
wooden structure within a neighborhood there’s simply a door that opens anybody
there’s simply a door that opens anybody
there’s simply a door that opens anybody can put non-perishable food items or
can put non-perishable food items or
can put non-perishable food items or toiletries into it and anybody can open
toiletries into it and anybody can open
toiletries into it and anybody can open it up and take out what they need
it up and take out what they need
it up and take out what they need there’s no paperwork it’s very
there’s no paperwork it’s very
there’s no paperwork it’s very accessible so the kids were all on board
accessible so the kids were all on board
accessible so the kids were all on board but I wasn’t so sure that this was going
but I wasn’t so sure that this was going
but I wasn’t so sure that this was going to be a great idea I had three concerns
to be a great idea I had three concerns
to be a great idea I had three concerns and I shared them with the kids
and I shared them with the kids
and I shared them with the kids the first was where would we get the
the first was where would we get the
the first was where would we get the money to do this the second was how
money to do this the second was how
money to do this the second was how would we build this and finally and most
would we build this and finally and most
would we build this and finally and most importantly I was worried about setting
importantly I was worried about setting
importantly I was worried about setting them up for failure I thought perhaps
them up for failure I thought perhaps
them up for failure I thought perhaps they would go through all this work they
they would go through all this work they
they would go through all this work they would make this happen and maybe it
would make this happen and maybe it
would make this happen and maybe it would be vandalized or maybe it would be
would be vandalized or maybe it would be
would be vandalized or maybe it would be misused and after sharing my concerns
misused and after sharing my concerns
misused and after sharing my concerns with the students one of the girls in my
with the students one of the girls in my
with the students one of the girls in my class said the only way we will fail at
class said the only way we will fail at
class said the only way we will fail at this is if we don’t try and if you’ve
this is if we don’t try and if you’ve
this is if we don’t try and if you’ve ever dealt with one child that has their
ever dealt with one child that has their
ever dealt with one child that has their mind set on something you know how
mind set on something you know how
mind set on something you know how relentless they can be when
relentless they can be when
relentless they can be when multiply that by 25 you don’t really
multiply that by 25 you don’t really
multiply that by 25 you don’t really have a say in the matter and so it
have a say in the matter and so it
have a say in the matter and so it wasn’t long after that that DJ showed up
wasn’t long after that that DJ showed up
wasn’t long after that that DJ showed up to school and he told me that we had a
to school and he told me that we had a
to school and he told me that we had a meeting set up with Eastside pride
meeting set up with Eastside pride
meeting set up with Eastside pride Eastside pride is a community
Eastside pride is a community
Eastside pride is a community organization that looks at providing
organization that looks at providing
organization that looks at providing supports in the East End in their
supports in the East End in their
supports in the East End in their neighborhood and they were having a
neighborhood and they were having a
neighborhood and they were having a meeting a couple weeks later and we were
meeting a couple weeks later and we were
meeting a couple weeks later and we were on the schedule to ask them for the
on the schedule to ask them for the
on the schedule to ask them for the money for the little free pantry and a
money for the little free pantry and a
money for the little free pantry and a beautiful thing happened at this point
beautiful thing happened at this point
beautiful thing happened at this point in my language arts class the students
in my language arts class the students
in my language arts class the students that didn’t enjoy writing were writing
that didn’t enjoy writing were writing
that didn’t enjoy writing were writing they created a collaborative Google
they created a collaborative Google
they created a collaborative Google Google slide deck and they all work
Google slide deck and they all work
Google slide deck and they all work together to make this presentation they
together to make this presentation they
together to make this presentation they revised and edited each other’s work and
revised and edited each other’s work and
revised and edited each other’s work and they put together a really great
they put together a really great
they put together a really great proposal and so when I showed up at the
proposal and so when I showed up at the
proposal and so when I showed up at the wish center at 6 o’clock at night and
wish center at 6 o’clock at night and
wish center at 6 o’clock at night and all these students showed up to present
all these students showed up to present
all these students showed up to present their idea and not only were they there
their idea and not only were they there
their idea and not only were they there but they brought their friends from the
but they brought their friends from the
but they brought their friends from the school as well and they did an amazing
school as well and they did an amazing
school as well and they did an amazing job and they were successful in getting
job and they were successful in getting
job and they were successful in getting the money at this point I realized I
the money at this point I realized I
the money at this point I realized I really had to get behind them on this
really had to get behind them on this
really had to get behind them on this project and so we started to make a plan
project and so we started to make a plan
project and so we started to make a plan we took the drawings that crews had from
we took the drawings that crews had from
we took the drawings that crews had from their little Free Library and within our
their little Free Library and within our
their little Free Library and within our math class we modified these and we used
math class we modified these and we used
math class we modified these and we used expanded the dimensions and we used
expanded the dimensions and we used
expanded the dimensions and we used cardboard to build a model of what we
cardboard to build a model of what we
cardboard to build a model of what we thought our pantry should look like and
thought our pantry should look like and
thought our pantry should look like and then we used that to actually build make
then we used that to actually build make
then we used that to actually build make our material list so we could go out and
our material list so we could go out and
our material list so we could go out and build our pantry I was still a little
build our pantry I was still a little
build our pantry I was still a little bit stuck though on the idea of how we
bit stuck though on the idea of how we
bit stuck though on the idea of how we were going to make this come together I
were going to make this come together I
were going to make this come together I knew that the kids wanted to be a part
knew that the kids wanted to be a part
knew that the kids wanted to be a part of actually making the pantry but I have
of actually making the pantry but I have
of actually making the pantry but I have no skills in this area so I reached out
no skills in this area so I reached out
no skills in this area so I reached out to the community and I asked a local
to the community and I asked a local
to the community and I asked a local construction company schatz Bros
construction company schatz Bros
construction company schatz Bros construction if they would come in and
construction if they would come in and
construction if they would come in and oversee the project and so they offered
oversee the project and so they offered
oversee the project and so they offered they were more than happy to jump on
they were more than happy to jump on
they were more than happy to jump on board and they donated the extra
board and they donated the extra
board and they donated the extra materials we needed and the on a
materials we needed and the on a
materials we needed and the on a Saturday morning the students came to
Saturday morning the students came to
Saturday morning the students came to school and they brought along their
school and they brought along their
school and they brought along their parents and their siblings and they all
parents and their siblings and they all
parents and their siblings and they all had a hand in the actual physical
had a hand in the actual physical
had a hand in the actual physical construction of the pantry well all of
construction of the pantry well all of
construction of the pantry well all of this were going on was going on we were
this were going on was going on we were
this were going on was going on we were looking at where we would put the pantry
looking at where we would put the pantry
looking at where we would put the pantry so the students had
so the students had
so the students had sets of criteria set out that they
sets of criteria set out that they
sets of criteria set out that they wanted to meet the first and the most
wanted to meet the first and the most
wanted to meet the first and the most important is that they wanted it to be
important is that they wanted it to be
important is that they wanted it to be within their neighborhood otherwise it
within their neighborhood otherwise it
within their neighborhood otherwise it wouldn’t be it wouldn’t be reaching
wouldn’t be it wouldn’t be reaching
wouldn’t be it wouldn’t be reaching their goal the second is they wanted to
their goal the second is they wanted to
their goal the second is they wanted to partner up with a community agency this
partner up with a community agency this
partner up with a community agency this was important to them so they had an
was important to them so they had an
was important to them so they had an extra set of eyes on the pantry and
extra set of eyes on the pantry and
extra set of eyes on the pantry and finally they thought it should be in a
finally they thought it should be in a
finally they thought it should be in a well-lit area so preferably under a
well-lit area so preferably under a
well-lit area so preferably under a streetlight we went back to our Google
streetlight we went back to our Google
streetlight we went back to our Google my maps we took a look at the Street
my maps we took a look at the Street
my maps we took a look at the Street View they surveyed the neighborhood and
View they surveyed the neighborhood and
View they surveyed the neighborhood and they made some suggestions about where
they made some suggestions about where
they made some suggestions about where they thought this should go and they
they thought this should go and they
they thought this should go and they finally landed on family service Kent
finally landed on family service Kent
finally landed on family service Kent it’s just on the edge of their
it’s just on the edge of their
it’s just on the edge of their neighborhood and it met all of the other
neighborhood and it met all of the other
neighborhood and it met all of the other criteria so we reached out to them and
criteria so we reached out to them and
criteria so we reached out to them and they loved the idea right away they were
they loved the idea right away they were
they loved the idea right away they were definitely very interested and the kids
definitely very interested and the kids
definitely very interested and the kids at this point learned a valuable lesson
at this point learned a valuable lesson
at this point learned a valuable lesson about how hard it is to make physical
about how hard it is to make physical
about how hard it is to make physical change happen within a community so
change happen within a community so
change happen within a community so despite the fact that everybody was on
despite the fact that everybody was on
despite the fact that everybody was on board we had months of conversation that
board we had months of conversation that
board we had months of conversation that had to happen within the agency with a
had to happen within the agency with a
had to happen within the agency with a person that actually owned the land with
person that actually owned the land with
person that actually owned the land with insurance companies and there was more
insurance companies and there was more
insurance companies and there was more than once that we thought we could go
than once that we thought we could go
than once that we thought we could go ahead and do the install and then we had
ahead and do the install and then we had
ahead and do the install and then we had to wait so while we were waiting the
to wait so while we were waiting the
to wait so while we were waiting the kids came up with another idea and they
kids came up with another idea and they
kids came up with another idea and they wanted to fill the pantry they didn’t
wanted to fill the pantry they didn’t
wanted to fill the pantry they didn’t they didn’t think about asking for the
they didn’t think about asking for the
they didn’t think about asking for the money for that when they did their
money for that when they did their
money for that when they did their proposal so we had to come up with a way
proposal so we had to come up with a way
proposal so we had to come up with a way to raise some money so that we could
to raise some money so that we could
to raise some money so that we could stock it with non perishables and
stock it with non perishables and
stock it with non perishables and toiletries we had lots of seedlings in
toiletries we had lots of seedlings in
toiletries we had lots of seedlings in our classroom because we have an outdoor
our classroom because we have an outdoor
our classroom because we have an outdoor garden and we start our plants from seed
garden and we start our plants from seed
garden and we start our plants from seed and often people would come in and they
and often people would come in and they
and often people would come in and they would say if you have any extra plants
would say if you have any extra plants
would say if you have any extra plants can we have them so the students saw
can we have them so the students saw
can we have them so the students saw this as an opportunity to make some
this as an opportunity to make some
this as an opportunity to make some money they put together a marketing
money they put together a marketing
money they put together a marketing survey on Google Forms and then they
survey on Google Forms and then they
survey on Google Forms and then they sent it out through social media they
sent it out through social media they
sent it out through social media they analyzed the results and based on this
analyzed the results and based on this
analyzed the results and based on this they made decisions about what types of
they made decisions about what types of
they made decisions about what types of plants they should grow how much they
plants they should grow how much they
plants they should grow how much they should charge and when we should have
should charge and when we should have
should charge and when we should have our plant sale so the first week of June
our plant sale so the first week of June
our plant sale so the first week of June they set up something that looked a lot
they set up something that looked a lot
they set up something that looked a lot like a lemonade stand in the front of
like a lemonade stand in the front of
like a lemonade stand in the front of the schoolyard and within 40 minutes
the schoolyard and within 40 minutes
the schoolyard and within 40 minutes they sold all of their plants
so it was finally time for us to go
so it was finally time for us to go ahead and put put the pantry into their
ahead and put put the pantry into their
ahead and put put the pantry into their neighborhood and have their
neighborhood and have their
neighborhood and have their ribbon-cutting ceremony at this point it
ribbon-cutting ceremony at this point it
ribbon-cutting ceremony at this point it was the last week of the school year so
was the last week of the school year so
was the last week of the school year so at a time when kids are usually checking
at a time when kids are usually checking
at a time when kids are usually checking out and ready for summer vacation they
out and ready for summer vacation they
out and ready for summer vacation they were more excited than ever they
were more excited than ever they
were more excited than ever they couldn’t wait to see this come to life
couldn’t wait to see this come to life
couldn’t wait to see this come to life one of the students in my class
one of the students in my class
one of the students in my class suggested that we use Facebook as a way
suggested that we use Facebook as a way
suggested that we use Facebook as a way to reach our community to educate people
to reach our community to educate people
to reach our community to educate people about what the pantry was and how it
about what the pantry was and how it
about what the pantry was and how it could be used and so I set up a page and
could be used and so I set up a page and
could be used and so I set up a page and I run this with another one of the
I run this with another one of the
I run this with another one of the parents in the classroom and the
parents in the classroom and the
parents in the classroom and the students have the opportunity to add
students have the opportunity to add
students have the opportunity to add content through us so they put the
content through us so they put the
content through us so they put the ribbon cutting ceremony off and it was
ribbon cutting ceremony off and it was
ribbon cutting ceremony off and it was the second last day of school that we
the second last day of school that we
the second last day of school that we were going over and we had made plans
were going over and we had made plans
were going over and we had made plans that we would head out directly after
that we would head out directly after
that we would head out directly after recess if anybody here has ever been in
recess if anybody here has ever been in
recess if anybody here has ever been in an elementary school you know that
an elementary school you know that
an elementary school you know that things never go according to plan and so
things never go according to plan and so
things never go according to plan and so there happened to be a fistfight at
there happened to be a fistfight at
there happened to be a fistfight at recess and we were a little bit behind
recess and we were a little bit behind
recess and we were a little bit behind schedule and when we finally were able
schedule and when we finally were able
schedule and when we finally were able to leave school property the kids were
to leave school property the kids were
to leave school property the kids were literally running down the street
literally running down the street
literally running down the street with arms full of canned goods and
with arms full of canned goods and
with arms full of canned goods and diapers and feminine hygiene products
diapers and feminine hygiene products
diapers and feminine hygiene products and all kinds of things that they wanted
and all kinds of things that they wanted
and all kinds of things that they wanted to give to their community and along the
to give to their community and along the
to give to their community and along the way one of the boys said to me why are
way one of the boys said to me why are
way one of the boys said to me why are we running nobody’s even going to be
we running nobody’s even going to be
we running nobody’s even going to be there and so when they turned the corner
there and so when they turned the corner
there and so when they turned the corner and they saw a collection of twenty
and they saw a collection of twenty
and they saw a collection of twenty people out front including the local
people out front including the local
people out front including the local media there to support their initiative
media there to support their initiative
media there to support their initiative it was so moving to them the Facebook
it was so moving to them the Facebook
it was so moving to them the Facebook group had another purpose that I wasn’t
group had another purpose that I wasn’t
group had another purpose that I wasn’t expecting to happen but since since
expecting to happen but since since
expecting to happen but since since they’ve actually put the pantry in many
they’ve actually put the pantry in many
they’ve actually put the pantry in many people have shared their experiences
people have shared their experiences
people have shared their experiences with it on the Facebook wall so people
with it on the Facebook wall so people
with it on the Facebook wall so people talking about how great it feels to be
talking about how great it feels to be
talking about how great it feels to be able to give back to the community
able to give back to the community
able to give back to the community parents going to the grocery store with
parents going to the grocery store with
parents going to the grocery store with their kids and spending an extra ten
their kids and spending an extra ten
their kids and spending an extra ten dollars and then delivering those items
dollars and then delivering those items
dollars and then delivering those items something that requires zero commitment
something that requires zero commitment
something that requires zero commitment very little money but it is a way to
very little money but it is a way to
very little money but it is a way to give back to their community as well
give back to their community as well
give back to their community as well several people have taken the initiative
several people have taken the initiative
several people have taken the initiative to run food drives for the little free
to run food drives for the little free
to run food drives for the little free pantry so students have continued to do
pantry so students have continued to do
pantry so students have continued to do this through the
this through the
this through the school one of my former students has
school one of my former students has
school one of my former students has partner partnered up with her mom’s
partner partnered up with her mom’s
partner partnered up with her mom’s business and any customers that come in
business and any customers that come in
business and any customers that come in and buy a product from them and bring in
and buy a product from them and bring in
and buy a product from them and bring in a canned good receive a discount several
a canned good receive a discount several
a canned good receive a discount several businesses throughout the community have
businesses throughout the community have
businesses throughout the community have also taken a stand and done things to
also taken a stand and done things to
also taken a stand and done things to raise products and items for the little
raise products and items for the little
raise products and items for the little free pantry the other side of this
free pantry the other side of this
free pantry the other side of this though that people can’t see is the
though that people can’t see is the
though that people can’t see is the inbox and these are the stories that the
inbox and these are the stories that the
inbox and these are the stories that the kids know because a lot of these stories
kids know because a lot of these stories
kids know because a lot of these stories come from their community people
come from their community people
come from their community people reaching out through the inbox saying
reaching out through the inbox saying
reaching out through the inbox saying where are you how can I get to you I
where are you how can I get to you I
where are you how can I get to you I need help and so the fact that these
need help and so the fact that these
need help and so the fact that these kids have been able to create something
kids have been able to create something
kids have been able to create something that provides assistance to the people
that provides assistance to the people
that provides assistance to the people that need it in the moment has been
that need it in the moment has been
that need it in the moment has been extremely powerful when I look back on
extremely powerful when I look back on
extremely powerful when I look back on this project I know that it’s been a
this project I know that it’s been a
this project I know that it’s been a success not just in terms of the
success not just in terms of the
success not just in terms of the curriculum expectations that they’ve
curriculum expectations that they’ve
curriculum expectations that they’ve covered in multiple subject areas not
covered in multiple subject areas not
covered in multiple subject areas not just in the physical change that they’ve
just in the physical change that they’ve
just in the physical change that they’ve created in their community but because
created in their community but because
created in their community but because they’ve been able to raise awareness
they’ve been able to raise awareness
they’ve been able to raise awareness about an issue that exists within their
about an issue that exists within their
about an issue that exists within their neighborhood they’ve been able to create
neighborhood they’ve been able to create
neighborhood they’ve been able to create supports for their own families in their
supports for their own families in their
supports for their own families in their neighborhood and this is all through the
neighborhood and this is all through the
neighborhood and this is all through the simple act of neighbors helping
simple act of neighbors helping
simple act of neighbors helping neighbors and I would like to suggest
neighbors and I would like to suggest
neighbors and I would like to suggest that if a group of 25 children can do
that if a group of 25 children can do
that if a group of 25 children can do this then everybody else can as well
this then everybody else can as well
this then everybody else can as well thank you
”
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