Heartland Elementary captures Spirit of Giving trophy

Students from Heartland Elementary School in Geneva won this year’s Spirit of Giving trophy after collecting 725 pounds of food during the annual Red Ribbon Week Food Drive.

With food levels nearly depleted in the First Baptist Church of Geneva’s food pantry, the Geneva Coalition for Youth, sponsor of Red Ribbon Week festivities, met with representatives from each of District 304’s elementary schools to devise a plan to meet the growing needs in the community.

Each school was to collect food pantry donations. At the end of the food drive, donations were taken to the First Baptist Church of Geneva’s east campus, where Geneva Police Officer Shelley Frangella weighed each carload.

The results were unprecedented. The traveling Spirit of Giving trophy proved effective, motivating students from the six district elementary schools to collect approximately 2,500 pounds of food.

Kane County Cougars mascot Ozzie T. Cougar was on hand Friday to present the trophy to the Heartland students.

The middle schools, Geneva High School and the GHS Fellowship of Christian Athletes also pitched in, coming up with 3,700 food items.

“These donations will feed the 250 families well into the spring,” said Erin Wise, Compassion in Action Coordinator at First Baptist.

For more information on the Geneva Coalition for Youth, call Julie Pouilly at (630) 777-0900.