Kindergartners at Parkwood Elementary School collected non-perishable food items for the Community Helping Ministry. To show gratitude to anyone that donated items, students and staff members were able to visit the kindergarten art fair and pick out a number of crafts based on the amount of items donated.

Kindergartner Donielle Ivy Jr. said the items collected will help those in need.

“We’re collecting food for people that live around us,” he said.

The Community Helping Ministry serves families in need in the Maryland Heights and Bridgeton area and the teachers estimate about 700 items were collected.

“We do a project based learning activity each year around needs and wants and it’s always student-centered as far as what we want to focus on and how we want to help,” teacher Amanda Castile said. “We've done a lot of animal projects for the zoo or with the Humane Society, but this year they picked the food drive and store concept.”

Classes spent time on Nov. 15 making different craft items and the food drive and art fair was held on Nov. 21.

“I think we feel like our youngest learners can't do much, but look at the huge impact they've been able to have,” teacher Christina Livingston said. “Even though they're young, it doesn't mean that they can't do really great, amazing things or they can't put something really cool together for the school and the community. I think we just shouldn't underestimate our youngest students and it can be easy to do that sometimes.”

Ivy took great pride in his work and enjoyed the responsibilities he had during the art fair.

“I counted the number of crafts they picked out and put it in a bag for them,” he said. “When I handed it to them, I always remembered to say, ‘Thank you.’”

Kindergarten teachers are Castile, Abby Beckermann, Livingston and Denise Overman.

Photo gallery: https://pattonvillesd.smugmug.com/2022-2023/PW-Food-Drive-and-Art-Show/