Students at Garden Montessori School celebrated Thanksgiving by giving back to the Fountain City community.
Throughout November, students in Garden’s upper elementary class, a combined classroom of 3rd and 4th grade, collected cereal and peanut butter to donate to the Fountain City Ministry Center, housed in Central Baptist Church of Fountain City. On Nov. 22, students started the morning with a Thanksgiving meal and readers theatre performances, then loaded up their donations and walked them to the ministry center.
The food drive is a longstanding effort at Garden. Principal Dian Taylor said this year’s collection is the biggest she’s seen with 97 boxes of cereal and 94 jars of peanut butter.
Ministry center volunteer Kelly Gregory greeted the students and gave them a tour. She said the donation came at a good time, as November has seen almost 150 more recipients than usual, and shelves that are normally stocked full are bare.
Founded in March 2001, the ministry center is a combined effort of 10 Fountain City churches and other service organizations, giving food, hygiene items and children’s clothing to families in need. In a normal month, the ministry center serves about 150 families and individuals.
Garden Montessori student Harris Lambert helps put donated cereal on the shelves at Fountain City Ministry Center.
Volunteer Kelly Gregory helps students act out what happens when a person in need visits Fountain City Ministry Center. Here, Yuma Livesay pretends to register as a recipient, and Daniel Carey portrays a check-in volunteer.