Clear skies. Low 53F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph..
Clear skies. Low 53F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.
The student council at Mountain Ridge Intermediate School packed more than 350 bags for the Berkeley County BackPack Program last week in preparation for school ending.
Students and parents from Mountain Ridge Middle work on packing food bags for the Berkeley County BackPack Program.
The student council at Mountain Ridge Intermediate School packed more than 350 bags for the Berkeley County BackPack Program last week in preparation for school ending.
Students and parents from Mountain Ridge Middle work on packing food bags for the Berkeley County BackPack Program.
GERRARDSTOWN — The student council at Mountain Ridge Intermediate School was pleased to be able to have its food-drive efforts benefit others by packing more than 350 bags for the Berkeley County BackPack Program.
The students ran a food drive in February for the BackPack Program, and last week, the packing took place at a great speed — under an hour.
“It’s heartwarming to see kids giving back, and I hope it ignites a passion inside of them to continue to give of themselves to others,” Mountain Ridge Intermediate counselor Christine Redstreake said. “When it comes to service and helping others, I always tell my students there are three ways that we can give. We can donate items and things that are needed. We can donate our money, but most precious of all, we can donate our time. I found this to really move a lot of my kids, and I hope this experience sticks with them and reminds them just how rewarding helping others can be.”
Redstreake said she and her co-advisor for the student council enjoy choosing a community service outreach every other month to have the students within the school work with or give to.
“We initially chose to give to the BackPack program, because it was kids giving back to kids, and we thought there was power in that. After having a food drive in February and collecting items for the program, I reached out to (BackPack Program Executive Director) Lisa Henry and asked how our students could take that extra step,” Redstreake explained. “Mrs. Henry and I organized a date for our group to come in and assist with bagging. The process was extremely smooth.”
Students from the community receive a food bag each week if they are signed up through the BackPack Program within their school.
“With it being the last week of school, students received not one but two food bags. Therefore, reinforcements were needed,” Redstreake said about last week’s packing.
Mountain Ridge Intermediate Student Council representatives bagged additional food bags for students within this program to take home until their summer food program begins.
“I honestly thought the students would be asking me how much longer as we went through the process,” Redstreake said. “Instead, I saw them hurriedly race to grab another bag and fill it. I heard them say things like, ‘I’m having so much fun’ and ‘I feel like I’m really making a difference.’ I felt an electric energy in the room from both my students and their parents as they worked expeditiously. Overall, I believe the students’ reactions were that they were just happy to give back, and we have the Berkeley County BackPack Program to thank for this gratifying feeling.”
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