Continuing a longtime holiday tradition in Killeen ISD and throughout Central Texas, schools and other groups once again pulled together to donate food to help neighbors in need.
Widely promoted as “Food for Families,” the drive that helps fill local pantries for the next few months, is reflective of individual efforts at dozens of schools in KISD and across the area.
On Thursday, the day before the end of this year’s drive and the start of KISD’s week-long holiday, three fifth-graders at Harker Heights Elementary School worked on boxing up donations.
They walked along with two school counselors, placing cans and boxes of donated food into boxes for transport on Friday to one of three pantries located within the school district.
“We’re boxing up food that people donated to give to people in need,” said fifth-grader Daniela Solis, a member of Harker Heights’ Bobcat Leadership Team.
Each week during the drive, fourth- and fifth-grade leadership students picked up food as students brought it to their individual classrooms. The class that brings the most gets a pizza party.
“It’s been very competitive,” said counselor Abbie Scott, assisting the student collectors. “Every day they are asking ‘who is in the lead.’ They want to win.”
From an educators’ standpoint, the winners are the community and its future leaders.
“It’s a good opportunity at this level in elementary school when they are developing their worldview to instill values,” said Scott.
“They can see the importance of community service and taking care of each other as well as themselves.”
“It makes me feel happy to know I’m helping someone,” said fifth-grader Karlena Smith.
Fifth-grader Arthur Puni has attended Harker Heights Elementary School since pre-kindergarten. He was excited to get to serve in leadership during an important service project.
“We always bring in food to donate to help others,” he said. “It’s important because there are a lot of people who need food. It’s nice we can help others.”
