- Washington Elementary
- Homepage
Return to Headlines
Ninth Annual Washington Elementary School “Human Chain” Food Drive Delivers More than Food to Local Pantry
WEST ORANGE, NJ – The Ninth Annual Washington Elementary School “Human Chain” Food Drive delivered 1,238 cans and packages of non-perishable items for its next-door neighbor, the Holy Trinity-West Orange Food Pantry on April 29, but they brought a whole lot more than food.
“This is amazing,” said food pantry volunteer Chris Babinski as he snapped photos and chatted with West Orange police officers Sgt. Tito John, Scott Smarsh, and Chris Jacksic, who blocked off Franklin Avenue for the drive.
Chants of “pass that can” echoed along the line that began in front of Washington School and ended inside the food pantry. Excited students in grades K-5 laughed and smiled as cans and packages were passed into sorting crates manned by members of the student council.
“It’s important to help people that don’t have enough food,” said fifth grade student Gloria Anuamadi, who also attends Holy Trinity Episcopal Church and volunteers in both the food pantry and Soup Kitchen.
Linda Perna, Washington Kindergarten teacher and event organizer, was pleased about this year’s event.
“Our Principal, Ms. Marie DeMaio, is so supportive,” she smiled. The teachers are enthusiastic and help with our classroom competitions. The class with the most items at each grade level gets a pizza party.”
“The students get so excited about it,” Perna continued. “They start asking around the time of the Super Bowl when our "soup"-er bowl will be starting. The excitement and enthusiasm is obvious the day we have our hand-off.”
After an early April postponement due to inclement weather, cloudy skies did not dampen spirits as the donations poured into the pantry. Student Council task team members also escorted Kindergarten students into the pantry to drop off their canned goods and packages.
“It takes a lot of time and hard work to run the food pantry,” noted Cynthia Cumming, pantry Administrator. “We are lucky to have such a wonderful community that supports us.”
“We look forward to the Washington School drive every year, not just because it delivers useful items to stock our shelves,” Cumming continued, “but because it is so touching and heartwarming to see the smiles, compassion and enthusiasm from the students. It never gets old,” she concluded.
The food pantry is open the last two Tuesdays and Fridays of each month between 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and the fourth Monday of the month from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. West Orange residents in need of food can contact Cynthia Cumming at 201-341-9217 or email at holytrinitywo@gmail.com.
To see all the photos from the food drive, go to Washington Elementary School Annual Food Drive.
Click on the link above to see all the photos from the food drive.
West Orange Public Schools