The Villager Newspaper Online Your Community News – Cleveland's Westshore
Hilliard Elementary School surpassed its $1,200 goal and raised $2,263.05 – enough to buy 9,052 meals – through the annual Harvest for Hunger campaign, “Generosity in Bloom.”
Harvest for Hunger is an annual food and funds drive conducted through grocery stores, workplaces and schools in 21 Northeast Ohio counties. The food and money collected by Westlake elementary students stays in the community and is given out by Northeast Ohio food pantries, soup kitchens, senior centers, homeless shelters, and after-school and other youth programs.
Hilliard second grade students made daily announcements about hunger, third grade students made posters, and fourth graders and Project LINK after school students created hundreds of “thank you” buttons for contributors.
Along with the donations, the school also collected 390 pounds of food. Because the school’s $1,200 goal was reached, students will be rewarded with a Pajama Day and sustained silent reading in a room of their choice on April 17.
This is the 13th consecutive year Hilliard Elementary has participated in the campaign. Since 2002, the school has collected $35,844.65 and 3,919 pounds of food. Hilliard Librarian/Media Specialist Kim Geletka organized this year’s Harvest for Hunger Committee.
