The donated food was collected during a three-week food drive held at Colvin Run. Photo contributed
Boxes of non-perishable food that filled the trunks of eight large SUVs were donated on Monday, Dec. 16, by Colvin Run Elementary School families to a local Fairfax County elementary school. The donated food will be distributed to families in need of assistance over the two-week holiday. As noted by Colvin Run Elementary School Principal, Ken Junge, "Many people do not realize that there are over 47,000 students in Fairfax County who are eligible to receive free or reduced lunches. Our students understand the importance of being a caring member of a global community. Donating food, so that children are not hungry over the winter break, is just one way we can help these families in need."
The donated food was collected during a three-week food drive held at Colvin Run. The students helped run the drive by creating the advertisements for the drive and sorting and packaging the donated food. As Kaitlin, a second grader at Colvin Run, explains, children often helped shop for the food as well. "My three sisters and I went with my mom to the grocery store together. We each were given money to spend and we picked out food that we thought kids our age would like." Nathan Herendeen, a Colvin Run counselor, explains that one of the core character traits emphasized at Colvin Run is compassion. "Teaching compassion and to care for others in our community is a key component to our curriculum. We use this opportunity every year to help give the children a concrete understanding of how helping others, even if in a small way, really can make a difference."
In addition to the food drive, Colvin Run also collected and delivered winter coats and outerwear, including hats, scarves, snow pants, boots, and other warm clothing, to the school. The food and winter outwear drive is organized each year by the Colvin Run PTO, together with the assistance of the Student Council. As summarized by the parent coordinator for this year’s drive, Ann Malekzedah, "This drive is a school-wide affair. You cannot walk through the halls of Colvin Run during these three weeks and not know that sometime big is happening."