During the month of October, U-High and Metcalf competed against each other in a food and hygiene supply drive for the School Street Food Pantry. Donors dropped off donations at U-High and Metcalf, mainly organized by lab school directors, U-High Principal Andrea Markert, Dr. Anthony Jones, and Metcalf Principal Carmen Bergmann.
The competition aspect of the annual drive is new for everyone involved, an idea that has not happened between the laboratory schools before. “The competition just makes it a little bit more interesting. You know, it’s a little more fun that way. It’s a friendly competition,” Markert said.
“I’m a super competitive person, so Mrs. Markert and I are teasing each other,” Bergman said with a laugh. “But at the end of the day, if the competition is what gets more food to people, I think that’s great, too. I will not be a sore loser or a sore winner.”
At Metcalf, there were concerns about donations due to an overlap in events. The school is currently hosting “Socktober” as well, a drive for students to donate new socks. “I’m not sure if all the efforts are going to the food drive,” Bergman reported. Nonetheless, she still believed in the young students and their ability to beat U-High.
Both principals reflected on memorable past food drives that made a difference for communities in need. When a nearby town that, at the time, was experiencing the aftereffects of a destructive tornado, students and families came together to donate much-needed water.
“We had a water drive for everyone in Washington, Illinois, and we collected so much water,” Markert said. “We had just played them the day before [the tornado hit] in football. And we were there.”
Bergmann also shared an experience about a coin drive, while she was principal at Prairie Land Elementary School, that shows how even young children can lead the way in bringing a community together.
“Our kindergarteners, on their own, kind of figured out that people in our community had needs,” Bergman said. “They encouraged all their families to check their cars for coins, and then they bought food. I thought that was a pretty cool idea for five-year-olds.” She was proud of the initiative taken by her young students to help donate food to the community that needed it.
Food drives are a great way to build genuine involvement in the community and help those in need. No matter who wins, the lab schools are happy to come together and help the community.