From left, seniors Meghan Chen, Bao Randrianarivelo, and junior Mariella Toro, wrap and reinforce boxes that will contain food and supplies for students at Marshall Road Elementary School in Vienna. Photo by Abigail Constantino/The Connection
Members of the Spanish and French Honor Societies at James Madison High School collected non-perishable foods to distribute to 20 children at Marshall Road Elementary School.
After school let out on Tuesday, Dec. 9, members of both honor societies began to gather the food and household items students and parents collected through their drive and reinforce and wrap the empty paper boxes in festive holiday paper where the items will be placed. Each box will be given to a needy student at Marshall Road Elementary School.
“Lots of people don’t know that people in the county go hungry,” said Spanish Honor Society officer junior Chris Weech, of Vienna. He said that the food drive helps in raising awareness of that issue.
The food drive has been a “labor of love,” said Spanish teacher Carolyn Carroll. She said that the students’ families also got involved and one of the parents brought a minivan filled with food.
The Spanish and French Honor societies committed to 20 boxes but Carroll believes that they will have enough for more. The elementary school will receive the extra supplies and food as Carroll said that the teachers at Marshall Road Elementary School have sent students home with food on Fridays so they will have something to eat over the weekend.
Madison students know that there are families in need in their own community. Senior Alejandro Tsocalis, of Oakton, whose mother works in a shelter, knows that a lot of people need help and how important it is for everybody to pitch in. Through her church, senior Bao Randrianarivelo, of Vienna, knows that helping those less fortunate “builds you as a person.”
“It’s nice to know people are willing to help,” said senior Meghan Chen, of Oakton, especially during the holiday season. “It’s a good time to give back,” said junior Mariella Toro, of Vienna.