By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
LIMESTONE — Kindergartners of the Limestone Community School hopped on a bus to take a good-natured field trip on Feb. 9, bringing 132 non-perishable items to the food pantry of the Limestone United Methodist Church.
Contributed photo
In conjunction with the 100th day of school, Limestone kindergartners of Kristi Adams’ class donated 132 non-perishable goods to the food pantry of the Limestone United Methodist Church. Students were, from left, front row: Martin Brooker, Cameron Labreck, Emma Lamontagne, Gwendolyn Bragg, Gregory Mignacca and Tasha Breneman. Back row: Eyzic McBreairty, Aimee Eivers, Breanna Ketch, Kyle LaBreck, Jacob Beaulieu, Marissa Green, Cortney Cote and Matthew Bragg.
Collecting non-perishables for the food pantry was one part of the class’ 100th Day of School Celebration, but the lessons students learned surpassed the celebration’s numerical significance.
While the class did plenty of fun activities, like answering the question ‘if you could have 100 of something, what would it be’ and ‘what would you not want 100 of,’ kindergarten teacher Kristi Adams tied in a community service element to the 100th Day Celebration, discussing how some people don’t have access to basic necessities — like food.
“They really took to the lesson,” Adams said, describing how the students understood that people who need help are of all ages. “They understood that anybody, at some part of their life, may need help.”
By the time the students bussed their non-perishable gatherings to the food pantry, they were well versed in the importance of community service.
“When I asked them ‘why would we need a food pantry?’ they were pretty quick to answer that people don’t always have enough food,” said pastor of the Limestone United Methodist Church Ellen Cleaves.
Adams explained that this was the first year students have collected items for the food pantry in conjunction with the 100th Day Celebration, but she’s looking to continue the food drive again next year.
Aside from getting to see how the pantry is organized, Pastor Cleaves discussed with the students the importance of helping others and how an unforeseen event could potentially result in a community member not having enough to eat.
“[Pastor Cleaves] was great at relating that message to the students,” Adams said.
Aside from the good feelings that come from doing good deeds, students were also treated to a snack of goldfish-shaped crackers and juice boxes.
Call 325-4870 to reach the Limestone United Methodist food pantry.
