Parent Teacher Magazine Gaston County Public Schools 2015 | Page 4

School social workers organize food collection drives
The “Spirit of Giving” in Gaston County Schools

As a social worker at Sadler Elementary School,
Tabatha Rainey knows how the holiday season puts a
strain on local food pantries.
She stays in contact with food banks at local churches
throughout the year. “If families call me because they
don’t have food, that’s where I send them,” Rainey said.
But these food pantries often end up depleted after
the rush of the holiday season. Knowing this, Rainey
decided this year to organize a food drive with Gaston
County Schools social workers.
During the month of November, Rainey and several
colleagues promoted the “Give Back to Those Who Give
Back” food drive. Other school social workers organized
food drives in connection with National Hunger and
Homelessness Awareness Week observed November 1523.
All of these efforts had the same goal: to provide for
students in need. And by stocking up before the holidays,
schools could ensure food pantries would have something
to give to families who face hunger early in the new year.
The schools and social workers who participated in
these efforts collected a total of 3,329 cans plus 10,126
pounds of food, $271, and many boxes full of paper
Tabatha Rainey, school social worker at Sadler Elementary School, delivered more
products, personal hygiene items, socks and hats to
than 700 items to the Christ Community Baptist Church Outreach Food Ministry in
benefit the organizations that serve their families. Not
Gastonia. She is pictured with church volunteers who oversee the food ministry.
only will the food help students in need, it also provides a
learning opportunity for their classmates.
“We hope that from this our students can take with them that it is better to give than receive,” Rainey said.
Her students at Sadler collected a total of 1,146 cans, which principal Rebekah Duncan said was the biggest food drive the school has
ever had. Rainey encouraged students to donate by offering popsicles to every class with more than 50 cans and giving a pizza party to the
class that collected the most.
Rainey delivered nearly 400 items to the food bank of New Destiny Worship Center, and on the day before Thanksgiving, bro ՝