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Home > Common Cents Challenges Schools to Support Their Local Food Pantry
March 13, 2009
On March 5th, Teddy Gross, Founder and Executive Director, sent an urgent letter to all Penny Harvest schools, challenging student leaders who sit on Philanthropy Roundtables to donate 10% ($100) of their $1,000 philanthropic budget to help families who are in need.
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Last year Penny Harvest students from across the New York City collectively donated $5,150 to Reaching Out Community Services, a food pantry in Brooklyn. Their donations helped keep the struggling pantry open.
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There are 600 food pantries in New York City, and reports indicate that demand for food is rising while donations dwindle. But the children of the Penny Harvest are stepping up to do their part. In just one week, 80 food pantries have been adopted by Penny Harvest schools, and $11,962.50 in emergency funds have been given by children to feed the hungry.
But, this is only the beginning! Each day, more and more Penny Harvest Schools are electing to be matched with their local food pantry, and their grant will be the first step in creating an on-going partnership between the school and the food pantry. Students will also be encouraged to tailor services to meet local needs – e.g. food drives, distributing food stamp information, recruiting volunteers, painting the pantry, etc. Schools will also receive a Common Cents social studies curriculum on nutrition to enhance student learning.
This is not the first time that Penny Harvesters from across the entire city have come together to help an urgent cause. In 2005, after Hurricane Katrina, Penny Harvesters donated $78,000 to help other children during the recovery. Even last year, students made 202 grants to stop climate change. In fact, each year Common Cents selects one issue that all students can contribute to together. Learn about this year’s Global Relief issue.
YOU CAN SEE WHAT SCHOOLS ARE PARTICIATPING IN FULL PANTRY PROJECT HERE.
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