When schools around the state are looking for examples to follow in helping the communities they serve, they need look no farther than Anne Arundel County.
Continuing what has become an annual tradition, county schools led the state once again in the Harvest for the Hungry – Kids Helping Kids drive in terms of both money and pounds of food collected. South River High School topped both lists in the 2014 drive, collecting $31,337 in cash and 29,985 pounds of food.
Anne Arundel County schools held four of the top five spots in cash donations and three of the top five in pounds of food.
Piney Orchard Elementary School ($18,381) was second in the state in monetary donations, while Severna Park High School ($17,820) was third and Severna Park Elementary School ($14,330) was fourth. Davidsonville Elementary School (18,361) was third in the number of pounds of food collected, and Central Elementary (18,107) was fourth.
“Our schools and our children care so much about their communities, and this is certainly proof of that,” said Teresa Tudor, AACPS’ Senior Manager of School and Family Partnerships. “Across our county, we collected more than 230,000 pounds of food and nearly $115,000 dollars to help children whose families can’t always make ends meet. By doing this, we are helping to remove one more barrier to academic success for children.
Harvest for the Hungry – Kids Helping Kids is sponsored annually by the Maryland State Department of Education and the Maryland Food Bank. For several weeks each fall, schools conduct drives, contests, and other events to raise money and food for the program.