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'Kids want to help': Students are fighting hunger after Hurricane Helene

'Kids want to help': Students are fighting hunger after Hurricane Helene
AT WXII 12.COM/SECOND HARVEST. WELL, SPEAKING OF SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK, YOUNG STUDENTS IN THE TRIAD ARE HOPING TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE FOR THOSE RECOVERING IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLIN FROM HELENE. THOSE STUDENTS ARE HOLDING A FOOD DRIVE RIGHT NOW WITH THE GOAL OF PROVIDING RESOURCES TO THOSE IMPACTED THERE IN OUR WESTERN COUNTIES. OUR ERIN BURNETT JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON THEIR EFFORT. ERIN, HOW MUCH FOOD ARE THOSE STUDENTS TRYING TO COLLECT? THEY’RE TRYING TO THEIR GOAL IS TO FILL 14 BOXES OF CANNED GOODS AND NONPERISHABLE ITEMS. AND SPAIN IS A COUNSELOR AT JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AND SHE SAYS WHILE THEY’RE DOING GOOD IN THE COMMUNITY, THE DRIVE IS ALSO TEACHING THE STUDENTS WHAT IT MEANS TO GIVE BACK. SHE TELLS US AFTER HURRICANE HELENE DEVASTATED THE STATE AND IMPACTED SOME OF THEIR OWN FAMILIES, THE KIDS ARE MOTIVATED TO HELP MORE THAN EVER. WHEN CHILDREN CAN RELATE TO IT, THEY UNDERSTAND IT BETTER. AND SO WE STARTED OUR FOOD DRIVE EARLY THIS YEAR. WE USUALLY ONLY DO IT FOR TWO WEEKS, BUT THIS YEAR WE STARTED RIGHT AFTER THANKSGIVING BECAUSE OF THE THE PEOPLE IN OUR MOUNTAINS THAT THAT NEED THE FOOD. AND IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A BIG GIANT WAY. YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO OUT HERE AND AND BUILD A HOUSE OR GIVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. YOU CAN BRING ONE CAN OF FOOD. SPAIN SAYS THEY HAVE ALREADY FILLED ABOUT SEVEN BOXES. THAT’S MORE THAN 1000 FOOD ITEMS, BUT THEY NEED YOUR HELP TO REACH THEIR GOAL. THEIR DRIVE ENDS NEXT THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19TH. AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR DRIVE, VISIT OUR WEBSITE WXII 12.COM. AWESOME! IT WAS SO SWEET. I JUST HAVE TO GIVE MISS SPAIN A SHOUT OUT. I FEEL LIKE SHE IS REALLY TRYING TO GET THESE KIDS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT COMMUNITY IMPACT MEANS. THEY’RE DOING SO MANY OTHER THINGS. THEY STARTED A CROCHET CLUB AT THAT SCHOOL. SHE IS A FORMER POLICE OFFICER TURNED SCHOOL COUNSELOR, SO SHE NEEDS HER OWN FEATURE. WOW. I KNOW YOU WERE SAYING WHEN YOU MET HER YESTERDAY, YOU CAME BACK LIKE, SO INSPIRED BY HER. SO YEAH, I’M GLAD THAT WE GOT TO HIGHLIGHT THEIR EFFORTS AND THE STUDENTS ALREADY ARE DOING SO MUCH AT THAT AGE, STARTING AT A YOUNG AGE IS SO IMPORTANT TO. IT’S LIKE IT JUST CHANGES OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS. SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT. AND SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK RELIES ON THE COMMUNITY TO, YOU KNOW, JOIN IN THEIR COMMUNITY DRIVES THEIR TOYS, THEIR FOODS, THEIR TOYS. I’M THINKING TOYS FOR TOTS. THERE’S A LOT OF EFFORT. THERE’S SO MANY SEASON OF GIVING, SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS.
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'Kids want to help': Students are fighting hunger after Hurricane Helene
Students at an elementary school in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, are some of Second Harvest Food Bank’s smallest helpers.The generous students at Jefferson Elementary School are trying to make a big impact with their third annual food drive.Ann Spain, a counselor at the school, is organizing the drive.Spain said they are increasing their goal from last year to 14 boxes of food.She said the kids get so excited to give, so she is confident that they can fill their boxes.They are collecting canned goods and nonperishable items through the last day of school before winter break, which is Dec. 19.They have collected more than 1,000 food items so far.However, the school counselor says it is not just about the service. She said that as they give back, they are learning what it means to help others around them.“What we do goes beyond the walls of Jefferson Elementary School. And it’s important for kids to understand that. And they do," she said.This year, after Hurricane Helene devastated the state, many of her students' families were impacted.So her students are more motivated than ever to make a difference.“When the student spoke up about her family member, you could see the kids in the classroom go, ‘Ohhh’ when kids can relate to something, they understand it. And kids want to help. And I hope that transcends throughout their life," Spain said.To learn more information about the drive and how you can get involved, click here.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. —

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Students at an elementary school in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, are some of Second Harvest Food Bank’s smallest helpers.

The generous students at Jefferson Elementary School are trying to make a big impact with their third annual food drive.

Ann Spain, a counselor at the school, is organizing the drive.

Spain said they are increasing their goal from last year to 14 boxes of food.

She said the kids get so excited to give, so she is confident that they can fill their boxes.

They are collecting canned goods and nonperishable items through the last day of school before winter break, which is Dec. 19.

They have collected more than 1,000 food items so far.

However, the school counselor says it is not just about the service. She said that as they give back, they are learning what it means to help others around them.

“What we do goes beyond the walls of Jefferson Elementary School. And it’s important for kids to understand that. And they do," she said.

This year, after Hurricane Helene devastated the state, many of her students' families were impacted.

So her students are more motivated than ever to make a difference.

“When the student spoke up about her family member, you could see the kids in the classroom go, ‘Ohhh’ when kids can relate to something, they understand it. And kids want to help. And I hope that transcends throughout their life," Spain said.

To learn more information about the drive and how you can get involved, click here.