The Franklin Park Middle School Student Council raised $7,573 in cans and monetary donations for their annual can food drive. Franklin Park’s original goal was $4,000 worth of canned goods. the 8th grade class went to different businesses around Salem seeking donations for the can food drive. The Principal of Franklin Park, Tyler Lux, expressed how proud he was of the student body.
“It has been very good to just make sure that they’re giving back to the community,” Lux said. “We try to emphasize philanthropy here and just understanding that it does take a community to support one another. This is something that they can contribute that directly impacts our community”
After counting and sorting the can goods, Franklin Park student council delivered the goods to the new food pantry location, the Grace United Methodist Church. The church offers more room with space for additional service. A soft opening for recipients is taking place this month with a regular scheduled to begin in April.
Carol Ann Short, the head of the food pantry, says participants will now get to shop for items to fill a box instead of the boxes being prepackaged.
“We’re always looking for volunteers,” Short said. “People to pick up food from various places around town and bring them back here to our pantry, or just come and sit and talk to people in the dining room.”
Short says future plans include information on meal planning.
Short is appreciative of the large donation from the Franklin Park Student Council.
