HOPE – The students at Clinton Primary School concluded one of six current holiday canned food item drives on Hope Public Schools campuses to benefit local pantries with what is being hailed as the largest single such donation ever to one local charity.
\r\nCPS PreK through fourth grade students donated some 4,300 canned food items to Hope in Action on Nov. 29, requiring two van loads to transport the donation from the CPS campus.\r\n
\r\n“We filled both pantries,” HIA Director Mae Delaney said. “It’s been a long time since we’ve had them both full. I suppose that is the most we’ve ever gotten.”\r\n
\r\nThe CPS students collected the donation in one week prior to the annual Thanksgiving holiday break and delivered it to HIA for the Christmas holiday season.\r\n
\r\n“I believe this is the largest donation from CPS,” CPS Counselor Shauntelle Bennett said. “Hope in Action had to make two trips just to get them all. Way to go kiddos from CPS.”\r\n
\r\nThe student donations were part of a holiday contest, Bennett said.\r\n
\r\n“Lynda Cole’s fourth grade class won the pizza party with 228 items,” she said. “Cynthia Reyenga’s kindergarten class and Stephanie Maldonado’s second grade class tied with 192 cans each; and they won a popcorn party.”\r\n
Bennett and CPS Counselor Paige Bobo organized the event.
