MANSFIELD — Lily, a sixth grader at Eastern Elementary, reached into bulk box of individually-wrapped snack bags. She held up two options, asking the man across the table which he wanted.
It was just after 11 a.m. on Wednesday. A group of sixth graders from the Eastern Elementary student council was stationed at a simple pavilion in downtown Mansfield, distributing a lunch of hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and cookies.
People Helping People has provided free daily meals in downtown Mansfield for about nine years. The organization began its work in Central Park, then relocated to its current location on Bowman Street. Volunteers are there 365 days a year, come rain, snow or sunshine.
Different groups of people volunteer throughout the year.
It’s become a tradition students from Eastern look forward to, advisor Katie Rogers said.
“It’s so rewarding because so many of them have never done something like this, and they talk about it for the rest of the year,” she said. “I think it has a really lasting impact.”
Members of Eastern’s student council, which also includes fourth and fifth graders, raised money to purchase the food, prepared it at the school and even decorated brown paper bags.
“The student council officers presented at the board meeting at Lexington, where they asked if the board would want to donate,” said Stacy Davis, Eastern’s assistant principal.
“There were some community members in the audience that came up and gave money as well. I think we collected a little less than $200 that night.”
Serving lunch was an eye-opening experience for several students.
“It was really nice to see how much these people appreciated the little bit of food we could give them,” Lily said.
“We sometimes don’t realize how much we have. We take a lot for granted and don’t even realize it,” another sixth grader, Benjamin, added.
Kids from Eastern aren’t the only ones making a difference.
Mark Ellis, a regular volunteer, said the organization owes the new roof over its picnic area to an eight-year-old boy.
“An eight-year kid and his dad drove by one day and it was raining,” Ellis said. “The eight-year boy saw people sitting in the rain to eat and said, ‘Dad, we’ve got to do something.’ So they built that.”
Ellis said the average number of people served at the pavilion each day varies depending on the time of year.
“Right now, they prepare for 80 to 100,” he said. “When school is out for the summer, that’ll probably go up to 100 to 120.”
In the winter months, numbers drop as low as 30.
Ellis said about 15 percent of the people who come for a free meal are unhoused. Others may be living in shelters or struggling financially.
Anyone interested in providing a meal can visit the Facebook group People Helping People Meal Sign Up for more information.
