Schools donated thousands of canned goods this year to the Good Cheer Fund, helping feed a record 850 low-income families for the holidays.
When it came time to collect cans of food from Creekside Elementary School for the annual Good Cheer Fund, one trip was not enough.
Members of the Johnson County REMC had to load two trucks worth of food after students donated about 4,000 cans to the drive. Across the county, students donated between 35,000 and 40,000 cans of food, enough to feed a record 850 low-income families with some left over, which was donated to the Interchurch Food Pantry, said Jacob Sappenfield, Good Cheer Fund chairman.
The food included: eggs, chicken, cookies, bread, rolls, oil, brownie mix, potatoes and tomatoes, among other items, Sappenfield said.
“Schools were extremely enthusiastic this year. Every year is really good, but with them not collecting canned goods last year, the enthusiasm was even bigger, especially in the elementary schools,” he said. “I think it’s critical. The Christmas season gets overshadowed sometimes with commercialism and shopping and presents, but it’s really about the time of giving back and helping those less fortunate.”
Those less fortunate include some Johnson County students, who were referred by school counselors, Sappenfield said.
“We rely on and give priority to the schools for people who get the baskets. We feel like the counselors are as close to the families as anyone, and we always rely on them to supply names. More than half of (our referrals) come from schools,” he said. “We don’t make any judgments on anyone. If they need baskets, we will give baskets. We have schools, trustees, people on the ground, the senior centers — those referrals mean a lot. But honestly, everyone who applied got a basket.”
Sappenfield also helps people who may have missed the Good Cheer deadline but reach out later with a basket.
The Johnson County REMC buys food items to supplement donations, but got an extra boost this year from Franklin College, he said.
“I was worried about food expenses. We buy a lot of food as well. But Franklin College reached out to me to buy food items,” Sappenfield said. “I was able to not purchase mac and cheese and have Franklin College actually supply that.”
The food drive is an important reminder to care about people who might be less fortunate than themselves, he said.
“The appearance of Johnson County is everything is good and well, but there are still people out there struggling to have food in the fridge and their pantries,” Sappenfield said. “For my kids and all the kids involved, it opens their eyes that there are people less fortunate. It’s up to our neighbors to help people in need, that’s what community is about.”
