GMS finds giving food helps give thanks

Monday, November 24, 2014
Some of the nearly 800 non-perishable food items collected by Green Castle Middle School for its second Thanksgiving Food Drive competition. (Photo courtesy of Andre Warren)

A six-passenger vehicle was filled to the brim with non-perishable food items Monday morning as Greencastle Middle School (GMS) surpassed collections from last year in its second annual Thanksgiving food drive.

The vehicle had its seats removed in order to deliver the nearly 800 donated items to the food pantry at First Christian Church.

With a student population of nearly 450, the food drive was considered a success.

"We've doubled what we did last year," said GMS technology educator Andre Warren.

The event ran from Nov. 17 - 24 and encouraged students to donate non-perishable food items during their REACH periods as part of "Hunger Bowl Games."

REACH is a program that takes place at the beginning of the school day and deals primarily with character education, teaching responsible citizenship, learning what makes a successful student and bullying prevention.

Teaching how to be thankful for what you have by giving to those in need was a good fit for the lessons taught in REACH, according to Warren.

Friendly competition was introduced by offering challenges to classes like who could bring in the most spaghetti one day, or the most macaroni and cheese the next.

The challenges and the food-drive in general served as a "daily reminder to be thankful and help others," Warren said.

With its second year completed, GMS is planning the competition next year from Nov. 16 - 23, continuing with the tradition of ending the Monday before Thanksgiving.

"I'm extremely proud of all the students and how they stepped up," Warren said of the effort.

"(The food drive) made everybody's thanksgiving something they can be thankful for."

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