Watauga — Fourth-grader Sarah Blackburn was excited about helping “Stuff the Bus” at Whitley Road Elementary School Thursday morning.
Sarah brought in more than 250 items for the third-annual food drive sponsored by the Keller ISD Child Nutrition Department, food service provider Sodexo and Durham Transportation. Proceeds went to Food for the Soul, a non-profit group that feeds hundreds of families in the Keller school district.Sarah and her family bought cans at the store and collected more cans in two different neighborhoods.“I wanted to help people in need,” Sarah said.She also wanted to help her class win an ice cream party for bringing in the most items.The fourth grade at Whitley Road collected 730 items, a little more than half the school’s total. The entire grade level earned the right to watch a movie and have popcorn in the auditorium on an upcoming school day.Chris Maggard, child nutrition director, said ten school buses gathered donations from all across the district. He estimated the haul at about 20,000 pounds.Buses took food to the Keller Lions Club where Food for the Soul had volunteers to help with unloading, sorting and distribution.Kimberly Sawler, executive director of Food for the Soul, said that families in need could come pick up food at the Lions Club Friday and Saturday. The organization also was offering supplies to local churches and schools for starting a food pantry.The past few years, Food for the Soul has operated a backpack program in several Keller district schools. Every Friday, students can discretely pick up easy-to-prepare food to eat over the weekend.“There is such a need,” Sawler said. “No child should go to bed hungry.”Sandra Engelland, 817-431-2231 Twitter: @SandraEngelland
