Richland Fourth Graders Lead Successful Food Drive to Support Local Students 

Stephanie Joyce, author of this article, is a 4th Grade Writing Teacher at the Richland Center Intermediate School.

A group of fourth-grade students at Richland Center Intermediate School recently demonstrated the power of generosity and community spirit by organizing a food drive and fundraiser to benefit their school’s Snack Packs for Backpacks program. 

The program provides weekly bags of healthy snacks and food to students who may need extra support over the weekend. After learning that supplies were running low, the students decided to take action and chose the program as their service project. 

Over the course of two weeks, students collected healthy snack and food donations from classmates, families, and staff. They also hosted a week-long fundraiser selling “Bee Kind” pens, pencils, and bracelets. Their original goals were to gather 1,000 food items and raise $100. 

When it came time to present their donation to school counselor Mrs. Tefft, the students proudly exceeded expectations, delivering a total of 1,122 food items along with $310 to support the effort. 

The project didn’t just help restock supplies—it also gave students a real-life example of what it means to care for others and be part of a community. As the class reflected together, students shared that generosity can look different for everyone—whether it’s giving money, donating items, or giving time—and they noticed that helping others doesn’t just make a difference for someone else, it also fills your own bucket and makes you feel good. 

Community members in Richland Center who would like to continue supporting the Snack Packs for Backpacks program are encouraged to contribute, as ongoing donations help ensure students have the nourishment they need to succeed.

Those interested in helping can contact the school office for more information on how to get involved.

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