Local fifth-grader reprises Red Wagon Food Drive

A caravan of kids make their way from Gobin United Methodist Church on Tuesday, bound for the Putnam County Emergency Food Pantry with seven wagons full of nonperishable foods. Pulling the lead wagon is Lilly Welch, the fifth-grader who spearheaded the effort.

Banner Graphic/Jared Jernagan

With temperatures hovering below the 30-degree mark for much of Tuesday, it was a less than ideal day for kids to be out pulling their wagons.

Undeterred, a group of Greencastle young people bundled up and marched several blocks to make a difference in the Putnam County community.

With seven wagon (and one clothes basket) laden with about 800 items, the Red Wagon Food Drive made its delivery to the Putnam County Emergency Food Pantry on Tuesday, the culmination of an 11-day effort.

With her Red Wagon Food Drive nearing its destination, organizer Lilly Welch (right) and friend Tessa Cope lead the way up the front walk of the Putnam County Emergency Food Pantry Tuesday afternoon.

Banner Graphic/Jared Jernagan

What might be most remarkable is the Tzouanakis Intermediate School fifth-grader who led the effort. Lilly Welch actually led her first food drive four years ago when she was a first-grader at Ridpath Primary.

The seed was planted even earlier.

“When I was in kindergarten, a little boy in my class lost his house due to fire,” Welch recalled.

While relatives were able to step in and help that particular family, it didn’t stop questions from swirling in the young lady’s mind.

“They were lucky to have family they could stay with,” Welch wrote in a letter appealing for community support, “but it made me wonder if there were other people who didn’t have places to sleep or enough to eat. There are and some are here in Greencastle.”

While getting parents Jonathan and Amy involved was one thing, Lilly wanted to do even more.

“I really want kids involved because this is a way for kids to be involved in the community, be part of the community, make a difference in the community,” Welch said.

And so it was that a caravan of more than a dozen young people — mostly classmates and friends of Lilly’s — made the four-block trek from Gobin United Methodist Church to the food pantry on Tuesday.

The effort isn’t just moving young people to action, either, as Amy Welch is impressed by the wisdom she sees from her daughter.

“This program means a lot to her,” Amy Welch said. “She’s told me multiple times how kids see things adults often don’t see, social cues having taught adults to look away. Kids see the hurt and want to address it, they just need some help accessing the tools.

“I think she’s right, and I’m so touched by the number of community members and businesses willing to step in and help her with those tools,” the proud mom continued. “Love our little town.”

The volunteers at the food pantry are also impressed.

“We definitely appreciate the effort they put forth, pulling it down in the wagons,” food pantry representative John Jackman said. “It’s pretty neat.”

The beauty of the plan lies in its simplicity — a kid wanted to help and she made it happen.

“It makes my heart hurt knowing we have neighbors without enough food, and I want to help,” Lilly wrote. “If we all give a little, I believe a lot can happen.”