Lincoln Elementary YMCA LINC after school students Sophia Peterson, Danika Buckingham and Lucy Johnson, show off the donations collected for St. Susan’s Center as part of their food drive.

Lincoln Elementary School students in the YMCA LINC after school program are helping out their community by collecting non-perishable food items for St. Susan’s Center.

“The kids decided who they wanted their food drive to go to and St. Susan’s Center was the winner because they wanted to help out people who may not have a meal for the holiday,” said YMCA LINC director, Gina Bloomquist. “A community service project like this teaches the kids the importance of giving back. They also begin to realize that some families have a difficult time and need a little help — that it is so important for all families to have a nice holiday meal.”

Each grade is collecting food with a prize for the grade level that collects the most – a pizza party! Lincoln Elementary School third grader, Londyn Stokes, was so moved by the idea that people didn’t have enough to eat at this time of the year that she had her grandmother Stacey Thomas, who works at the STEL program, gather donations from the residents and staff. In addition, STEL Program Manager Lori Karalus was so inspired by the school’s efforts that the program made a $400 donation to YMCA LINC to help with the food drive.

“We are so lucky to have such caring students at Lincoln,” said Mrs. Bloomquist. “One of the cool things I am seeing is that some kids are helping out other grade levels by placing their food donations in their bins so they remain part of the competition to win a pizza party. Kindness reigns both inside Lincoln and in our community.”