Spring-Ford Students Donate to Local Soup Kitchen

A suggestion by sixth grade Spring-Ford Area School District Teacher Kate Gullo to donate activity books to a local soup kitchen turned into a full-scale volunteer effort at the 5-6 Grade Center in December.

“The students have surprised me with their generosity,” Gullo said. “My original idea was just for the activity books, but they wanted to do more. It was amazing to see how a classroom activity on social awareness became so much more. The students really ran with this idea.”

Gullo’s homeroom and switch class, led by co-teacher Mike Fickert, made over 50 activity books and collected dozens of non-perishable food products and clothing for all sixes and books for all ages to donate to St. John Church Soup Kitchen in Norristown.

As word of the collection spread throughout the school, other students donated to the collection, and many families volunteered to visit the soup kitchen and drop off donations.

“The families at the 5-6 Grade Center have really shown how generous they can be with this project,” Gullo said. “It’s not just donations, they are willing to take time from their winter break to help drop-off donations and distribute them to needy families. It’s wonderful.”