Binford students collect food in honor of MLK day

Binford Elementary School Principal Lucy Fischman estimates her school collected more than 1,000 pounds of food in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

On Friday, each classroom brought in different food items, such as macaroni and cheese and peanut butter.

The children also helped transport the boxes of food.

This is the first year Binford has participated in the food drive.

Fischman said the event was based on King’s quote, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

Melinda Hamilton, the school librarian, said the staff wanted to organize a school-wide project to involve all students.

The donated items will go to the Community Kitchen of Monroe County’s
Backpack Buddies program, where a child receives a backpack full of food when they leave school each Friday.

The program currently serves about 250 students at seven schools. Fischman said most students were able to participate in the food drive.

“The vast majority of kids brought something in, but everyone felt like they were a part of it,” Fischman said.

The project helped students learn about King’s life of service and what it means to pay it forward, Fischman said.

After the students collected their items, each class used them to spell out a letter of the phrase “Binford Pays It Forward.”

Fischman said this is one of many services opportunities Binford’s students participate in, such as sending care packages overseas to soldiers and visiting Redbud Hills Independent Senior Living Community.

“It’s really a service-oriented student body,” Fischman said.

She said the school will always organize something in honor of MLK Day.
“It’s a day on, not a day off,” Fischman said. “They were happy to donate it, and it did make them feel good about themselves.”

Students also received a paper peace dove, on which they wrote something for which they were grateful.

The doves will be displayed in student classrooms.

“I’m really proud of the kids, and I thank their parents for letting them participate,” Fischman said.

Hamilton said she believes the fact that the project involved children helping other children struck a chord with the Binford students.

Lisa Zorn, the music teacher at Binford, said the staff wanted students to recognize the affect King had on America.

The students learned the song “We Shall Overcome.”

“We wanted them to appreciate the Monday off,” she said.

The students watched videos about the civil rights movement and brainstormed ways they can help people in their community.

They discussed asking a child who may be left out at recess to come play with them.
“This community of Binford is pretty amazing,” Zorn said. “It was a great week. I hope we continue.”

Follow reporter Sydney Murray on Twitter @sydlm13.