Sanfordville Elementary School community adopts 14 families for Thanksgiving meals

Warwick — Sanfordville Elementary School faculty, staff and students adopted 14 families to support the Warwick Ecumenical Food Pantry’s Thanksgiving Basket Program. Over the last several weeks, students, teachers, aides, office and cafeteria staff organized, collected and delivered the food baskets. This is the eighth year that Sanfordville Elementary School has supported the Ecumenical Food Basket Program. Retired Sanfordville secretary and Ecumenical Food Pantry volunteer Marge Koopman coordinates the efforts. Typically, two classrooms adopt a family and the cafeteria staff, resource teachers and office staff each adopt a family of their own. Starting in early November, the classroom teachers assign items to students. Non-perishable items were collected and stored by the teachers, who often supply missing or forgotten items themselves. Many teachers integrate the experience into their lessons. Special care is taken in creating attractive and practical “baskets” which range from large plastic bins with lids to colorful reusable shopping bags. “When you consider the effort made to ensure that each Sanfordville community member has the opportunity to contribute, it is a huge undertaking,” said resource teacher Maureen Connolly. “The Thanksgiving baskets are a great way to model and exercise citizenship and service.” Classes frequently add personal touches to their baskets. In addition to the food basket, Christina Taylor’s kindergarten class donated a Baby Box filled with diapers, wipes and other useful items. Nancy Donahue and Katherine Valentine’s classrooms included a fresh flower arrangement in their basket. “The flowers were really pretty,” said second-grader Ally Fishler. “I hope the family likes them.” This story was provided by Liz Davidson.