During the early parts of December 2023, the Lopez
Food Share received a letter from an LISD 7th grader inquiring about guidelines for food drives.
“I’ve been learning about food insecurity right now and I want to help stop it,” read the letter.
Grayson, one of two students in Ms. Rose Prust’s Community Class, had been learning about how Lopez Island pulls together as a community and decided he wanted to motivate a change, starting with food.
Placing three donation boxes throughout the school, one outside of the Elementary Office, another outside the Secondary Office, and one in Ms. Rose’s classroom, Grayson collected quinoa, lentils, organic snacks for students, granola, soups, full boxes of cereal, shelf stable juices and milk boxes, and canned goods.
After a week of collecting, he delivered 114 pounds in dry goods.
“He was so surprised that the amount of food he gathered weighed more than he did!” Said Prust. “Supporting him in this project was a blast! From the moment he learned that 1 in 5 kids in the United States face some form of food insecurity every day, he was engaged.”
“Food insecurity is a very bad thing that affects a lot of people including children right here in the US. I want to help stop this problem,” said Grayson.
He and his classmate Kelsey toured the facility, learning more about what the Food Share does, who it serves and why it’s important, and he reminded us that all great achievements start with one inspirational action at a time.
If Grayson’s story inspired you, If your 2024 New Year’s resolution is to become a fundamental thread in the food security safety net, here is how you can help:
Gather and drop off originally packaged, unopened dry goods, at Lopez Food Share, located at 1108 Dill Road (northwest corner of Lopez Storage). Someone will be there to receive your items Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. If you miss us, please place items on the green shelving to the left of the door label “Food Share Exit”. This door is located on the side of the building with the concrete delivery dock. We’d love to know who donated, so, if we’re not in the office to greet you, please feel free to leave a note with your name.
Donation guidelines: no clothes or household items / no rusty or soiled items / no items more than 2 years expired / no home-canned items / products must be factory sealed, with one exception: dry dog or cat food.