×

12 days of service

Students re-define meaning of a food fight to help community

ERIN O’NEILL The Marietta Times Lilly Westbrock, 12, and her brother, Luke, 9, place canned goods that have been collected by St. Mary Catholic School students under the Christmas tree. The first Food Fight competition not only fosters a spirited rivalry between St. Mary and St. John Central school — the winning school receives the trophy seen left — but ingrains in the students the need to provide service to the community.

‘Tis the season of giving but that doesn’t mean only gifts and material objects. There is no better time to give of yourself, your time, your attention and volunteer for area organizations or donate to a favorite charity.

Students at St. Mary Catholic School in Marietta are learning the value of giving back to their community as they participate in the first-ever Food Fight with St. John Central School in Churchtown.

“These kids are learning how to take care of their school community, their Marietta community and their world,” said St. Mary teacher and student council advisor, Lori Estes. “They have taken this (idea of service projects) and just run with it.”

Along with the food fight competition to see who collects the most canned goods for St. Vincent de Paul, Faithlink and the Gospel Mission, students at St. Mary have also provided gifts for children through Washington County Children Services and Community Action and gifts for seniors at the O’Neill Center.

“To give back to other people, it just feels good,” said Lauren Clark, 13, vice president of the eighth grade student council. “It lets you see that other people might not have the same things that you have.”

Estes said that the students have also learned about the program Heifer International and were able to raise money to buy a flock of chicks for a family in need in another country. Since 1944, Heifer International has helped more than 31 million families. Heifer links communities and helps bring sustainable agriculture and commerce to areas with a long history of poverty. The animals provide partners with both food and reliable income, as agricultural products such as milk, eggs and honey can be traded or sold at market.

“Our goal is, if we can raise enough money through different things that we do, we’d like to support them monthly starting next year,” Estes said.

Giving monetarily, if one is able, is a good way to help many organizations at once. Many of the area’s food pantries are always in need of monetary donations.

Carole Garrison, of Marietta, has been a volunteer at the Community Food Pantry at First Congregational Church for 24 years. She continues to do it, she says, because she really wanted to help with service to her community.

“Also, the people I work with are just the neatest, most fun people,” she laughed.

While donations of items and checks to food pantries typically spike during the holidays, Garrison said that the need doesn’t go away when the holidays are over.

“We see a lot of people. I can’t tell you how many clients I take in and they’re apologizing to me for having to be there. It breaks your heart … that’s why I do this,” Garrison said.

At a glance

12 days of service projects

¯ Volunteer at a food pantry: Marietta Community Food Pantry 740-373-5741.

¯ Put money in the Salvation Army red kettle at Kroger, Kmart, Walmart and other participating locations.

¯ Bake cookies for people in nursing homes.

¯ Walk dogs at the Humane Society of the Ohio Valley: http://hsov.org

¯ Take someone to the airport.

¯ Knit or crochet a scarf for the Warmth for Warriors program: http://warmthforwarriors.com

¯ Shovel your neighbor’s driveway.

¯ Surprise a soldier with a care package: military-missions.org

¯ Donate a coat to Coats for Kids: Drop off locations include The Marietta Times, 700 Channel Lane.

¯ Adopt a family for Christmas through Washington-Morgan Community Action: www.wmcap.org

¯ Inquire about volunteering to answer phones at the domestic violence shelter: EVE Inc., 740-374-5820

¯ Serve lunch at a homeless shelter: Latrobe Street Mission, Parkersburg, 304-893-9460

Source: Times research

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.15/week.

Subscribe Today