Jose Barrios Elementary School Students Hold Food Drive to Benefit the WNMU One Stop
Each year, students at Jose Barrios Elementary School run a community-wide food collection campaign, benefiting residents experiencing food insecurity. The focus of this year’s five-week drive, which was facilitated by fourth-grade teacher Ben Duran, was dedicated to stocking the shelves of the WNMU food pantry, the One Stop. Each donation earned a special reward, from extra recess time to the chance to win an epic class pizza party. The effort was part of K-Kids (Kiwanis Kids), which has locally benefitted a number of Grant County non-profits, according to Duran. WNMU Student Services Coordinator Kim Woodward, who runs the One Stop, commended Duran and his students, noting how food donations are central to addressing food insecurity. “Food donations,” she said, “play a crucial role in addressing food security in several ways: donations provide essential food items to individuals and families facing food insecurity, ensuring they have access to nutritious...