At Forest Hills Eastern, there are a multitude of clubs that students can participate in. Clubs are a great way to connect with other students and the Forest Hills community. Another way to participate and give back is through volunteering. Google refers to volunteering as “giving your time and effort to benefit others without receiving payment or other direct compensation. It’s a way to make a difference in your community, develop new skills, and connect with people who share your passions.” At its core, Kids Food Basket is about volunteering. It is an organization that serves as a vessel to give back to the community.
Every child deserves the opportunity to have access to healthy food. Hunger encompasses all of the harmful effects of chronic malnourishment, including the inability to think clearly and function optimally. At the Muskegon-based organization, their goal is to help create a hunger-free West Michigan by invoking the experiences and passions of our local community. There are numerous ways to get involved, from packing lunches to working in the gardens, pulling weeds, and decorating lunch bags. All aspects of volunteering are about showing up and giving it your best to help the greater good!
The club at school is about both volunteering and fundraising for the organization. Food drives are held throughout the year to collect canned goods. During the school basketball season, there is a “Go Orange” week, where everyone decorates posters and donates a box of Goldfish crackers or similar snacks to help achieve the donation goal. Also, to add a twist to the mix, classes compete against each other for a pizza party as the prize! The class that receives the most points through food donations wins.
This Thursday, May 1st, KFB founder Ms. Mary K. Hoodhood will visit FHE to share her inspiring story and express her appreciation for your volunteer work. Students can join in on this message at the auditorium at the start of both lunches. Everyone is welcome, and it is strongly encouraged for those interested in joining the NHS or KFB Eboard. Attending will count as ONE SPONSORED VOLUNTEER HOUR.
Mary K. Hoodhood founded Kids’ Food Basket in response to a story she heard about an elementary school student digging through the trash at school for food to take home. At its inception, Kids’ Food Basket provided a sack supper to 125 children at three schools in the Grand Rapids Public Schools system. Healthy food is a right, not a privilege. Kids’ Food Basket is committed to ensuring that everyone in our community has the right to enjoy food, not just today, but for generations to come. Take initiative today and be sure to attend lunch to hear the special message; next school year, consider getting involved in the Kids Food Basket club. The impact of today is only discovered tomorrow.
