Lincoln raises bounty for pantry

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December 17, 2014 - 12:00 AM

The December word of the month at Lincoln Elementary School is “generosity,” and there’s been plenty of it on display lately.
Lincoln students have collected more than 1,000 items they’ll donate Friday to the Iola Community Pantry.
The idea’s genesis came from school counselor Judy McIntosh, who recalled a conversation with a student about his Thanksgiving Day meal.
Distressed at the response — the family had potatoes to eat, but nothing else — McIntosh decided to lend a hand.
McIntosh’s husband, Gene, is pastor at Calvary United Methodist Church and a member of the Iola Area Ministerial Association, which operates the Community Pantry.
After talking with her husband, McIntosh noted just how depleted the food reserves were at the local pantry.
So she approached Lincoln Principal Jason Marciano about a schoolwide food drive.
“One of the things Jason has challenged us all year is with character education,” McIntosh said, which includes words of the month.
That led to the “generosity” challenge.
McIntosh used a $50 gift card to purchase assorted pieces of candy, small toys and other knickknacks. For every item a child contributed, he or she would get a prize.
“It’s been wonderful to see the response,” McIntosh said.
The school crossed the 1,000 threshold Tuesday, with still more food coming in daily.
The students will visit the Community Pantry from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Friday. McIntosh welcomed anybody in the community to stop by and say thanks, or to make donations themselves. The Community Pantry is at the intersection of Washington and Broadway streets.
The food is greatly appreciated, said the Rev. Paul Miller, who visited with McIntosh and Marciano about the Community Pantry this morning.
“There are three types of people involved with the Community Pantry: those who donate, those who need help, and volunteers,” Miller said. “These kids could be in any one of those groups.”

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