KMES 4 graders help people in need

 
Last year KMES 4 graders, Diamond Pollard and Sydney  Swanson saw that a group of people were helping to pick up trash and thought, wouldn’t it be great to do a community service project to help the community.
 
From there they brainstormed and thought that it would be a good idea to have a toy drive.
 
While due to it being the end of the school year, and them not having enough time to make it happen, they knew that they wanted to do something this year.
 
In November Pollard asked Swanson if they should ask their teacher, Mrs. Spencer if they could have some sort of winter clothes drive.
Pollard explained that her motivation for the winter clothes drive came from the fact that she wanted to help people in the community who are in need.
 
“I wanted to help out people who don’t have winter clothes,” Pollard said.
 
After the two 4 graders built up the courage to ask their teacher about doing it she was able to get in contact with the school PTA who not only wanted to help out with the idea, but also wanted to make it a district wide drive, with the 4 grade at KMES being the faces of it.
Spencer explained that she was happy that the students asked about it.
 
“It was neat to see them ask if they could help others,” Spencer said.
 
While the two students have been the main driving forces behind the drive, Spencer explained that the project has been a combined effort between the school PTA and the 4 grade as a whole.
 
She explained that students have helped out in a number of different ways from making signs, to appearing in videos to help promote the drive.
 
Spencer also explained that the PTA has been a driving force in helping out with the drive including promoting the drive by putting up fliers in the community.
One of the good things about having the drive in December aside from the fact that it will help many people in the community is that December’s ‘Character Trait’ for the elementary school is caring.
“It’s a great month to have the opportunity to help people in need,” Spencer said, “ I have a lot of pride in the fact that the students wanted to help people in need,” she added.
 
Swanson said that she is hoping through the winter clothes drive that people in the community get what they need to stay warm during the cold Minnesota Winter.
 
“I hope people in need get what they need to stay warm,”  Swanson said.
 
New and gently used winter hats and mittens can be donated at the donation bins at all three K-M schools.  The drive will be held until Dec. 20