SHELBY — Grocery stores in Shelby had a handful of shorter shoppers among them on Friday morning.
The influx of elementary students came from Dowds Elementary’s annual community shopping trip to benefit Shelby Help Line Ministries and the FISH Food Pantry. Students from grades first through fourth visited Cornell’s IGA and the Sack N’ Save to purchase canned goods and nonperishable food items to donate.
According to Jennifer Steele-Rehberg, a third grade teacher at Dowds, this tradition began with former principal Wanda Dean from Russell Elementary, and continued even when the district combined the schools.
“I can’t even tell you how many years we’ve done this,” said Steele-Rehberg, a 22-year veteran of Shelby City Schools.
Dowds students in grades first through fourth started raising money to purchase groceries at the beginning of November, helping out at home to earn money to contribute. Kindergarten classes participated as well by bringing in canned goods from home to include in the donation.
“We ask that they do chores or other work to earn money, and some families just choose to donate,” said Steele-Rehberg. “We talk about the need and the hungry people in the community, and the giving spirit and how it’s nice to help.”
Over the course of about three weeks, Dowds students were able to raise $1,500 to use towards purchasing groceries to donate. On Friday, parent volunteers and teachers chaperoned multiple groups of shoppers, teaching students how to purchase food for all three meals of the day and which foods are healthier to purchase.
“Our local food pantry also came in and talked to the kids at an assembly, showing them which foods they need,” Steele-Rehberg said. “We’ll take the food items back and do some sorting activities and some math activities, and talk about the feel good in your heart.”
Talking to the third grade classes shopping at Cornell’s on Friday morning, many were excited to show off the canned goods, cereals and puddings they had chosen. Many said they helped their mothers with cleaning to earn money.
“Not a lot of people have money, so this is to help people that don’t have a lot of money,” said 9-year-old Kiara Konrad. “We’re helping other people.”
Ultimately, this is the lesson Steele-Rehberg hopes to stick with her students.
“That’s what’s nice about living in a small community, the support we have,” she said. “We support each other, and we’re lucky to be here.”
