Middle schoolers scoured the shelves of Gene’s Heartland Foods on Friday morning, looking for the best deals and foods to fill their shopping carts with items for the food pantry.
Grouped into teams and assisted by a handful of volunteer adults, the middle schoolers worked with a budget of $200 and a shopping list to compile their donations for the Hunger Games event. In total, $2,000 worth of items were purchased for the food pantry.
Sixth-grader Lydia Mueting said her favorite part of the event was getting to work together as a team. Different members had unique jobs, from finding the best deals to keeping track of costs to ensuring the team stayed within budget.
“It’s not just one person who goes off and buys everything. We all stay together and know what to buy together,” she said.
Last week, the middle schoolers met to discuss food insecurity in the community. They learned that many people who struggle with food insecurity may not show it on the outside.
“I’ve never really seen anyone, like, out in the streets,” Mueting said. “Now that I know that there is, I want to help more.”
Sixth-grader Elizabeth Jacobs said she enjoyed finding the items on sale and digging for the best prices. She said she learned to trust other people and find ways to help those who need it.
“It never really occurred to me that there is hunger in these parts,” she said. “But sometimes it’s just been right above my face.”
According to Feeding America, about 13% of people in Douglas County experience some form of food insecurity.
Food pantry coordinator Marsha Gordon said it was heartwarming to see the students so excited to help others. She said she hoped the event helped plant a seed in the middle schoolers to help others whenever they can.
“These young kids are just being instilled with a sense of community and to help others,” she said. “They’re having a great time and that’s really rewarding.”
