Shepherdstown Center College seventh graders Amanda Baeza and Lily Nicodemus (proper) pose with their van filled with meals pantry donations, previous to unloading them final Thursday afternoon. Courtesy picture
SHEPHERDSTOWN — At the start of the 12 months, Shepherdstown Shares President Jan Hafer was requested by a gaggle of Shepherdstown Center College’s pupil leaders to offer a presentation on the work of Shepherdstown Shares to them. Quickly after talking to the Household, Profession and Neighborhood Leaders of America (FCCLA) chapter, she was happy to listen to that they wished to do one thing to assist her 501(c)3 nonprofit group.
“They determined to do a meals drive in school for Shepherdstown Shares, and I referred them to Cari Simon,” Hafer mentioned, referencing the Shepherdstown Shares Meals Pantry coordinator. “This undertaking might be submitted for state competitors. Their aim is definitely to go to Nationals!”
The chapter positioned meals donation containers in every first interval classroom and, from Feb. 13-17, collected 500 items of nonperishable meals in them. On the finish of the week, two lecture rooms acquired donut events, after tying for first place within the quantity of meals they donated.
“That acquired a variety of our college students excited, the promise of getting donuts in the event that they gained!” mentioned chapter school advisor and household and client science trainer Andrea Religion, noting she was happy to see the success of the meals drive, as a FCCLA alumna. “FCCLA forces you to grow to be a frontrunner as a pupil, and that’s exhausting to do, to step into that place. It undoubtedly ready me to be a frontrunner and an advocate.”
Final Thursday afternoon, these objects had been delivered to Shepherdstown Shares Meals Pantry by undertaking leaders Amanda Baeza and Lily Nicodemus. The 2 seventh graders, who maintain the positions of chapter president and vice chairman, respectively, will use images and knowledge from the meals drive to compete within the FCCLA’s state competitors.
From left, seventh grader Lily Nicodemus, Shepherdstown Shares Meals Pantry coordinator Cari Simon, Shepherdstown Center College FCCLA school advisor Andrea Religion and seventh grader Amanda Baeza stand on the meals pantry’s entrance steps, taking a second to look over the containers of donations final Thursday afternoon. Courtesy picture
“We had been hoping to boost someplace close to 100 objects. This far exceeded our aim — we didn’t count on to do all of this!” Nicodemus mentioned, as her undertaking co-leader nodded in settlement.
“Personally, I’m actually enthusiastic about with the ability to share this undertaking,” Baeza mentioned, noting bringing consideration to the meals pantry and its mother or father group was certainly one of her objectives, with this undertaking. “I hope that this makes an impression!”
In line with Simon, the impression of inflation first hit the meals pantry final summer time. Fortunately, the pinch of the financial pressure was alleviated considerably over the vacation season, when neighborhood members gave generously to Shepherdstown Shares, in response to a mail-out encouraging a rise in monetary and meals pantry donations.
“Final summer time and into the autumn, I needed to make some cutbacks. I didn’t purchase butter all the time. We went from giving freely entire gallons of milk to giving freely half gallons of milk, until it was for an enormous household — that’s nonetheless taking place now! I ended shopping for canned pet food and cat meals. Toothbrushes had been on the purchasing listing each 4 weeks — that was ridiculous, because you don’t want to vary toothbrushes that always, anyway, so I took that off,” Simon mentioned, after serving to the 2 college students unload the donations and giving them a tour of the meals pantry, which is positioned within the Trinity Episcopal Church’s chapel. “Since that mailing that Mark Kohut spearheaded, the place they went to all the households on the town, persons are simply giving and giving and giving, so we’re in fine condition. However I nonetheless need to spend some huge cash each week, [because of inflation].
“We’re so grateful to have the ability to give extra objects to our purchasers due to this excellent donation!” Simon mentioned, These donations will permit us to be extra beneficiant with our different companions and underserved communities.“
- From left, seventh grader Lily Nicodemus, Shepherdstown Shares Meals Pantry coordinator Cari Simon, Shepherdstown Center College FCCLA school advisor Andrea Religion and seventh grader Amanda Baeza stand on the meals pantry’s entrance steps, taking a second to look over the containers of donations final Thursday afternoon. Courtesy picture
