YMS sixth-graders raise funds for York food pantry - Seacoastonline.com

YMS sixth-graders raise funds for York food pantry - Seacoastonline.com

Tuesday

Jun 11, 2019 at 3:21 PM Jun 11, 2019 at 3:21 PM

YORK � On Saturday, May 18, students in Michael Harris� sixth grade science class spent their morning at the Old York Garden Club plant sale. Since early April, they had been growing tomatoes, from seed, in their classroom to sell at the annual club sale. A fundraiser for the York Food Pantry, the students raised more than $450 and had the opportunity to present the check to Food Pantry Director Maureen Monson late last week.

In early April, students participated in an interactive session about food insecurity that included videos, discussion, games and multi-media tools. They then had the chance to get their hands dirty by planting the tomatoes, and, over a period of six weeks, watch them grow. To prepare for Saturday�s sale, students put together posters with educational information about food insecurity and key ways to help. During the sale, kids worked together selling plants, talking about food insecurity and handling all the donations. A few could even be found weaving through the plant sale line advertising the student project to try and boost sales. In all, the students sold over 120 plants.

�My students were very excited to be involved in this service learning project. Discovering that they were not just raising money or sponsoring a food drive, but working to educate our community about food insecurity made this project special,� said Harris. �The students did a fantastic job describing the project to the general public and educating the public on how they can help address food insecurity in our community.�

�We are really excited to be part of this project,� said Sue Luby, president of Old York Garden Club. �It is part of our mission as a club to help stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening and hosting the kids� tomato fundraiser at our annual plant sale brought a whole new energy to the event. Connecting to youth in our community is a way to share our club�s knowledge of horticulture and the joy that gardening can bring to people of all ages.� The club donated planting supplies and gardening expertise during the duration of the project.

�YCSA is so happy to have support from the students in town. Learning how to give back at a young age will be with them forever,� said Michelle Surdoval, YCSA executive director.