The students worked a 2-hour shift at the non-profit's warehouse where they sorted and packaged food and made over 300 Power Packs (weekend food for students in need).
Congressional's seventh graders are working with Fairfax based non-profit Food for Others to help get food to local residents in need. Last week, a group of students (7-Red) volunteered for a two-hour warehouse shift to package package food for distribution.
Food for Others distributes food to local residents through five different programs. Some residents go directly to the warehouse to obtain food. Food for Others makes weekly deliveries of food to various organizations including the Culmore Resource Center. Additionally, they provide Power Packs (weekend food for students) to a variety of schools in the area.
The entire group of students was greeted by Nikki Clifford, the Volunteer and Operations Manager at Food for Others. Ms. Clifford provided an overview of what the organization does, and how the students’ help was beneficial to the community. The students then divided into two groups. One group, accompanied by Mr. Gorham, assembled bags of non-perishable food items, and the other group along with Mr. Bowley and Ms. Allen, broke down 50-pound bags of onions, placing them into milk crates for easier distribution. The students then assembled over 300 Power Packs by filling resealable bags with breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack foods, and drinks. A representative from Food for Others said the Power Packs would provide enough supplies to help students in two of their largest recipient schools. The representative also noted that the student's combined volunteer time equated to 36 hours of work.
The entire group of students was greeted by Nikki Clifford, the Volunteer and Operations Manager at Food for Others. Ms. Clifford provided an overview of what the organization does, and how the students’ help was beneficial to the community. The students then divided into two groups. One group, accompanied by Mr. Gorham, assembled bags of non-perishable food items, and the other group along with Mr. Bowley and Ms. Allen, broke down 50-pound bags of onions, placing them into milk crates for easier distribution. The students then assembled over 300 Power Packs by filling resealable bags with breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack foods, and drinks. A representative from Food for Others said the Power Packs would provide enough supplies to help students in two of their largest recipient schools. The representative also noted that the student's combined volunteer time equated to 36 hours of work.
Stated Mr. Bowley, 7th Grade Advisor, "Food for Others is a wonderful fit for us because the 7th grade students already completed a food drive this year to donate to the Culmore Family Resource Center at Thanksgiving. The Culmore Center receives a weekly distribution from Food for Others, and our food drive helped to supplement that distribution for the holiday. Sleepy Hollow Elementary, right down the road, is one of the schools that receives Power Packs from Food for Others. By volunteering time in the warehouse, we are indirectly impacting other organizations that are a stone's throw away from our campus."
Another group of seventh graders (7-Blue) is scheduled to visit the warehouse in May to provide an additional 36 hours of volunteer service.
Congressional School
Preschool - 8th Grade Private School
Infant and Toddler Program
Falls Church, VA
