Students in the top four food raising classes walked donations to Combined Community Services yesterday.
(Photo by Alyssa Richardson)

Students at Harrison Elementary are taking the Warsaw Community School Corporation mission statement to heart. Yesterday, students delivered a total of 4,200 food items to Combined Community Services just down the road.

According to Harrison Elementary Principal Lee Snider, students hosted a two week food drive competition in their classrooms. The annual competition raised an incredible 4,200 food items — 700 more than the 3,500 goal the school had set. In addition, $500 in donations was raised to support Combined Community Services as well.

According to Snider, the initiative would not be possible without the help and vision of Mr. Scott Mehlberg, physical education instructor at Harrison elementary.

“He organizes the food drive every year,” explained Snider. “It was his dream to have the kids walk the food over to Combined Community Services to have the kids see where their donations were going.”

Snider explained that Mehlberg hoped the students could form a lasting connection as to where their donations were utilized and how they impacted others. Of importance to Snider was the school corporation’s adherence to the mission statement, specifically the goal to “enrich the lives of others.”

“This is an exciting opportunity for our students and staff to enrich the lives of others and live out our mission statement,” stated Snider. “We are excited to help our community and strive to enrich the lives of others through this donation.”

The top four classrooms to raise donations were Mrs. Ramsey’s fourth grade class, Mrs. Landwerlen’s sixth grade class; Mrs. WIley’s second grade class and Mrs. Stookey’s sixth grade class. Mrs. Ramsey’s class took first place with a total of 768 food items raised.