‘Kindness Counts’ – Oak Orchard first-graders donate food and money to pantry at St. Peter’s

Photos by Ginny Kropf: First-grade teacher Allison Woodburn and some of her students check out the food pantry at St. Peter’s Church during their visit on Wednesday. From left are Alex Moore, Xander Say, Caleb Martin, Emily Caraballo, Jason Wetherbee and Damien Swartwood.

MEDINA – The Food Pantry at St. Peter’s Church got a big boost on Wednesday with the annual visit of Angela Woodburn and Miss Gross with their first-grade class from Oak Orchard Primary School.

Eighteen students and their teachers and aide Lily Strickland walked from the school to St. Peter’s Church on West Avenue, wearing backpacks full of food items to donate to the food pantry.

It has become an annual tradition for the class to visit the food pantry, bringing food items and monetary donations for local residents in need.

The visit is part of the class’s community service project, called Kindness Counts, teacher Allison Woodburn said. As part of the project, students are encouraged during the school year to bring spare change from home to support a classroom initiative focused on helping others.

This year’s donation was a record-breaker for the class.

“We are thrilled to share that the students raised an incredible $336.50 for the food pantry, the highest total ever,” Woodburn said.

Diane Mazur, a volunteer at St. Peter’s food pantry, helps Azalya Elliott and Emily Caraballo select canned goods for a food basket.

 After the donation period ends, the students take part in meaningful lessons about money. They learn the names and values of coins, count the total amount collected and discuss how the funds can be used to make a positive impact in their community, the teacher said. Throughout the project, the class reflects daily on the quote, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”

“Our goal is to inspire students to lead with love and compassion in all they do,” Woodburn said.

Together, the class created a list of needs and wants for the pantry. Families were invited to meet Woodburn at Aldi’s on Friday afternoon to shop for the items. With the remaining funds, they purchased gift cards to Aldi’s, which will allow the pantry to continue meeting needs as they come up.

When the class at arrived at St. Peter’s on Wednesday morning, they were greeted by Diane Mazur and Denny Dubai. Head of the pantry, Robin Dubai, had a conflicting appointment and couldn’t be there, but Mazur, her sister, and Denny, her husband, filled in for her.

Diane Mazur, a volunteer at the Emergency Food Pantry at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, accepts a donation from Rylee Davis and her teacher Allison Woodburn. The first-grade class makes an annual visit in support of the food pantry.

At the pantry, the children presented Mazur with the gift cards, unloaded their backpacks, learned how to stack canned goods in the pantry and choose food for a family.

In return, Mazur and Dubai presented the children with bottles of bubbles and donuts to take back to school with them.

The students were Cyrus Bloom, Emily Caraballo, Cameron Cologgi, Rylee Davis, Azayla Elliott, Logan Foss, Quinten Mack, Caleb Martin, Tahlia Mendoza, Ryder Molina, Alex Moore, Xander Say, Magnolia Schroeder, Wrenyn Sheehan, Royal Spencer, Damien Swartwood, Jason Wetherbee and Ivy Wroblewski.

Robin commented the next day on the children’s visit, saying what a boost it gives the food pantry. She is very appreciative of the class and other grades who have done things for the pantry, including the Student Council at Wise Junior High School, who is donating peanut butter and jelly.

“That couldn’t come at a better time, as we just learned our supplier is out of peanut butter and jelly,” Robin said.

Robin said she also worries about the children whose families are struggling and wonders if they will have enough food during the summer.

Robin has been heading the food pantry for 30 years and always welcomes volunteers to help out.

Mrs. Woodburn’s first-grade class from Oak Orchard School unload the food items from their backpacks, which they donated to the food pantry.