CLARK—Students at Carl H. Kumpf love competition, so they were up for the challenge to see which homeroom could bring in the most non-perishable items for a charity in Elizabeth. Their added incentive was a pizza party that the Clark Kiwanis Club would sponsor for the winners.
For almost one month, the entire school participated in the drive. Many hands brought in the boxes of foodstuff that flooded the lobby and was stockpiled for St. Joseph’s Church in Elizabeth that runs a soup kitchen, a food pantry and a clothing outlet for homeless and at-risk people.
Not only did the youngsters get into the project wholeheartedly, nurse Catherine Kolb said, but the entire school. “The teachers and staff had a ‘Sweatshirt and Sneakers Day’ where they raised $271 for the cause,” she explained. Also, the P.T.A. helped the cause by having a dance with all monetary profits going for the fundraising effort. “Even the Board of Education office staff sent over a box of food, as did June Curti, the ALJ High School nurse,” she added.
The winners were Lace Cassidy’s homeroom that brought in over 149 items with Brad Terhune’s homeroom making a great showing of second place with 143 items.
The Clark Kiwanis Club had promised the winning homeroom a pizza party since the school’s student council along with Kiwanis-sponsored Builders Club were a major part of the food drive. President Jim Dougherty said the organization was happy to help, “It’s great to see our Builders Club assist the student council to think of others. That’s what Builders Club is all about: ‘Building a Better World.’”
Michelle Pannullo, the door greeter, was the one who stacked everything and boxed it all for the March 6 pick up. Kolb said. “We couldn’t have done it without her and the help of our whole school community.”
Winning Homeroom—Students in Dr. Lace Cassidy’s homeroom stand with her and Carl H. Kumpf Middle School’s Principal Jennifer Feeley (top center) to survey all of the non-perishable food goods collected recently for charity. The school’s lobby was filled with boxes and containers of food for Sr. Jacinta’s food pantry/soup kitchen at St. Joseph’s church in Elizabeth. The school’s PTA, the Board of Education office personnel and others in the school community assisted in making the project a success. (Photo by Susan M. Dougherty)
