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Schools

Fighting Hunger at Groveland Elementary School

Hundreds came out for the 8th Annual 'Full Bowls' event to help feed the hungry.

Visitors to Thursday night were greeted with the sight of traditional Japanese bowls — dozens of them, in various colors.

“Well I think it’s great,” said Jane Pears, a Groveland parent. “There’s a vast contrast in a lot of them.”

The bowls were the work of Groveland fifth graders who spent the past five weeks making them in art class. However, the bowls represented more than students’ creativity. Each bowl served as a reminder to people about the existence of hunger in the world.

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“The idea of the art is that we’re trying to raise awareness and gather people around to help feed the hungry,” said Jane Meyer, an art teacher at Groveland.

Thursday, a constant stream of families made their way to the school to not only view the students’ artwork, but to drop off non-perishable food and toiletry items, and donate money to the food shelf.

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“It’s actually one of our greatest times of the year to raise money to bring us into the summer months,” said Patti Sinykin, special projects coordinator with ICA food shelf. “The need is so great because all of the kids are home from school and there’s not the free and reduced lunches.”

Which means the push is on now to raise money for the less fortunate. Sinykin said the Groveland event, called “Full Bowls 2011,” kicks off a district-wide push to raise money and supplies for the needy through ICA food shelf.

As part of this kickoff event, families had the opportunity to bid on artwork made by school staff members (with all proceeds going to ICA), and eat bowls of soup together as a community.

“It’s a simple meal of soup and bread to represent that not everybody’s bowl is full,” Sinykin said.

It’s a message that students and parents from Groveland have been hearing for the past eight years. ICA food shelf staff members hope they continue to remember that message for many more years.

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To make a donation to ICA food shelf, follow this link: 

http://givemn.razoo.com/story/Intercongregation-Communities-Association

 

 

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