Erin Lehman, volunteer coordinator at Fremont Elementary School, is hoping to fill the foyer with food this week as part of a drive for Food for Thought.
The food drive will collect supplies for the nonprofit pantry that provides a bag of food each Friday for Carson City's homeless children, allowing them to eat on weekends.
"(Food for Thought) has done so much for the kids at our school, and we know they do so much for all the kids in the district," Lehman said. "This is our way of giving back."
About 60 kids at Fremont take advantage of the program. There are about 370-400 homeless children enrolled in schools at any given time.
Lehman said that if the drive goes well at Fremont, it may be duplicated at other schools.
"We're calling it the Fill the Foyer with Food and Love drive," she said. "We want to at least get all they boxes in the foyer full, and we have about a dozen set up."
In addition to parents, students and staff, the community is encouraged to drop off food items or gift cards to the school, 1511 Firebox Road, through Friday.
Each person who donates is invited to fill out a heart to be hung in the foyer.
Ian Burson, of Boy Scout Troop 341, is also helping with the food drive as part of his community service merit badge.
- Contact reporter Teri Vance at tvance@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1272.
Drop off food or monetary donations for Food for Thought at Fremont Elementary School, 1511 Firebox Road. For more information, call the school at 283-1100 or Erin Lehman at 230-3900.
Desired Food Donations are:
Shelf-stable individual size
cartons of milk
Fruit cups in plastic containers
Power bars
Canned or freeze-dried meats
Crackers with cheese
Non-refrigerated pudding
Easy Mac & Cheese
Microwavable soups
Single-serving trail mix
Single-serving bags of jerky
Beef or cheese sticks
Hot cocoa packets
Granola bars
Small bags of nuts
Oatmeal packets
Plastic spoons
Monetary donations are also greatly appreciated