Middle School Students Collect for Food Pantry

More than 150 winter students at  collected clothing items, 100 boxes of cereal and 30 bags of canned goods.

That’s because the students were attending the Snowflake Dance earlier this month and were asked to bring food items to donate to Palmyra’s Epworth Methodist Church food pantry.

“The generosity of our students never ceases to amaze me,” said Student Senate Co-Advisor Beth Green. “Our students were truly excited about donating to those in need.”

Students can earn PrizePalooza tickets during the year for things such as scoring a 100 on a test or getting caught doing a good deed.

Students also earned tickets for bringing items to the dance, such as peanut butter, cereal, hats, gloves and pet care items.

Tickets are redeemed for prizes for the students.

The drive is part of the school’s Caring Schools plan.

“Our goal is to teach the students about service and how one good deed or act of giving can help so many people,” said Melissa Sassaman, another senate advisor.

The idea for the food pantry in Palmyra—which also services families in Cinnaminson and Riverton—came from the . They donated items over Thanksgiving and officials there said the pantry is in need of a lot of items.

“With this time of year, and the economy being the way it is, we wanted to do something that is good community service, but will also benefit the families here in Cinnaminson,” said Jane Lagay, president of the home and school association at the middle school.