PHS HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVE
How can you put the learning into this service learning project?
1. Do not overemphasize incentives
Unfortunately, many food drives overemphasize incentives (i.e. the class who brings in the most cans wins a donut party) in an attempt to secure more donations. If overemphasized, these incentives may serve to trivialize or undermine the purpose of the food drive. In the end, students are no more informed about the issue of hunger in their community than when they began. Food drives that successfully communicate the needs that exist in the community tend to have the best overall results.
Unfortunately, many food drives overemphasize incentives (i.e. the class who brings in the most cans wins a donut party) in an attempt to secure more donations. If overemphasized, these incentives may serve to trivialize or undermine the purpose of the food drive. In the end, students are no more informed about the issue of hunger in their community than when they began. Food drives that successfully communicate the needs that exist in the community tend to have the best overall results.
2. Educate yourself about the Perry Center
The Perry Center serves nearly 3,000 people annually who live, work, or worship in Perry. In November 2012 alone, the Perry Center served over 300 people. The Perry Center is run entirely by volunteers. As a result, 96.5 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to people who are struggling to provide basic needs to their families. Each year, approximately 35% of the people who received food assistance from the Perry Center were children. The food and cash generated from the PHS Holiday Food Drive helps the Perry Center assist hundred of families in December and January. To learn more visit the Perry Center web page.
The Perry Center serves nearly 3,000 people annually who live, work, or worship in Perry. In November 2012 alone, the Perry Center served over 300 people. The Perry Center is run entirely by volunteers. As a result, 96.5 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to people who are struggling to provide basic needs to their families. Each year, approximately 35% of the people who received food assistance from the Perry Center were children. The food and cash generated from the PHS Holiday Food Drive helps the Perry Center assist hundred of families in December and January. To learn more visit the Perry Center web page.
3. Share your knowledge with others
Develop an "elevator speech" that you can use to clearly convey the importance of the food drive to potential donors with limited time. Consider using social media to raise awareness about hunger issues that exist in our community and encourage individuals to support the Perry Center.
Develop an "elevator speech" that you can use to clearly convey the importance of the food drive to potential donors with limited time. Consider using social media to raise awareness about hunger issues that exist in our community and encourage individuals to support the Perry Center.
4. Encourage teachers to get involved
The food drive is a great opportunity to address the issue of hunger across the curriculum. For ideas on how to connect the food drive to English, Social Studies, Math, Science, STEM, Art, Music, Theater, Foreign Language, Physical Education, Business, and Technology curricula, please check out this blog from Cathryn Berger Kaye.
The food drive is a great opportunity to address the issue of hunger across the curriculum. For ideas on how to connect the food drive to English, Social Studies, Math, Science, STEM, Art, Music, Theater, Foreign Language, Physical Education, Business, and Technology curricula, please check out this blog from Cathryn Berger Kaye.