Students at Vermont Day School loaded boxes of donations onto their school bus and delivered 1,043 pounds of food and hygiene items as well as 200 handmade, kid-friendly snack bags, and fresh banana bread to the Shelburne Food Shelf. The Food Drive, led by the 4/5 Class, and the VDS Day of Service are annual events for Vermont Day School, which were combined this year to increase awareness and impact.
The VDS Day of Service, in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. is a day “on” for students in Pre-K through 8th grade at Vermont Day School. The tradition began two years ago and has become a meaningful day for the school community, families and students alike, to come together and reflect on the work of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the importance of service to others.
During the month of January, students learned about the concept of food insecurity. They invited Shelburne Food Shelf Board Members, Georgine Grover, and Dana Valentine to a Zoom assembly to talk about the Shelburne Food Shelf, who they serve, and how it all works. Students learned that before the Pandemic, about 1 in 10 Vermont families were food insecure. That number is now 1 in 3 families. This emphasized the importance of the Food Shelf in the community and inspired Vermont Day School to collect as much food as possible.
”The Food Drive is an authentic leadership opportunity for our students, and a great way to teach students to be active and supportive community members”
