Alcott Elementary School fifth graders organized a food drive for Open Table as part of the school’s annual community service project. (Photo Courtesy Concord Public Schools)
CONCORD — Fifth-grade students at Alcott Elementary School once again led the school’s annual community service project, coordinating a school-wide food drive that benefited Open Table.
Students introduced the effort at an all-school meeting in October, where they explained Open Table’s mission and outlined their goal of creating kid snack bags for families.
Each grade level was assigned an item to contribute. Fifth graders promoted the drive, gathered donations from classrooms and decorated and packed the bags.
On Dec. 2, amid a wintry mix, students helped load the Open Table collection truck with everything they gathered. They filled 150 kid snack bags, decorated an additional 200 bags and provided several boxes of extra food items for the organization.
The mission of Open Table, which is based in Concord and Maynard, “is to end hunger in our local community by providing healthy food in ways that respect the dignity and diversity of those served.”
“Our annual community service project has become a meaningful tradition,” said Principal Naomi Krakow. “The fifth graders step up as leaders and carry this from start to finish, with support of their teachers. They inspire younger students and show them that helping others is part of who we are as a community.”
“Our students take real pride in this project each year, and they understand how their efforts support families,” said Superintendent Dr. Laurie Hunter. “Their collaboration and sense of responsibility show what young people can accomplish when they work toward a common goal.”
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Amid a wintry mix, Alcott Elementary School students help load the Open Table collection truck with everything they gathered. (Photo Courtesy Concord Public Schools)
Alcott Elementary School fifth graders promoted the food drive, gathered donations from classrooms and decorated and packed the bags. (Photo Courtesy Concord Public Schools)