Fifth grader Bentley Essig helped lead a student-led cereal donation drive that raised $950 through lemonade stands—funds that went toward buying hundreds of cereal boxes for local children in need. Bentley, along with 24 other Laurel Oak Elementary students, collected a total of 2,168 cereal boxes for Golden Gate and Parkside Elementary Schools, where most students rely on free or reduced lunch and face food insecurity during the summer.
“It is an amazing partnership,” said Jen Scrant, principal at Golden Gate Elementary. “It is showing leadership and students coming together and giving back as well. Close to 100 percent of students are on free and reduced lunch. This will be very good for our students over the summer.”
Delivering Cereal to Local Schools
Right before school this spring, the students, then fourth graders, from Laurel Oak delivered cereal to Golden Gate Elementary and helped students there select two boxes each. More cereal was delivered to Parkside where students each chose one box.
This is the fourth year that Laurel Oak students have held this massive cereal drive.
“This is the most cereal we have ever gotten,” said Laura Kerlek, a fourth grade teacher at Laurel Oak.
The original plan was to adopt only one school for the program, but a second school was added because of the amount of cereal received.
“It just started as a kindness project,” Kerlek explained. “We wanted to do something for our school community to spread kindness, and this is what we came up with, and it just kind of grew.”
Raising Funds Through Lemonade
The students raised money to buy cereal through a variety of methods. Four students had lemonade stands. Other students asked friends and family to donate money. Students went to other classrooms at their school to encourage more students to donate cereal.
“They organize it and collect the cereal. It is all done by the kids. I am just the sponsor,” Kerlek stressed. “They wanted to help other kids in the community who might not have breakfast over the summer.”
Bentley had three lemonade stands and raised $950. His father and a family friend matched what Bentley earned. Then Bentley went to the store and loaded his cart with $1,900 worth of cereal.
Greta Hochstetler ran a lemonade stand during her community’s yard sale day, and that brought her a lot of customers. She raised $300, and that was enough to buy 47 mega size boxes of cereal.
Patrick Heleen and James Borgatti worked together at a lemonade stand, raising $138 to buy 38 boxes of cereal.
“Some people didn’t even want lemonade, they just gave money,” Patrick said.
Students Reflect on the Joy of Giving
The kids said they enjoyed doing the work because they knew it was helping others.
“It is very nice and caring to help other kids,” Bentley said.
“It is very cool how we raised money to help other kids,” Greta added.
Evie Shinal convinced her grandparents to give her $100 to buy cereal.
“They were buy one, get one free, so we got a lot,” Evie said. “It is just so amazing because it is helping other people, and it makes me feel so happy when I see some kids getting some food for the summer.”
Kelly Ramirez and Michael Jerome, now fourth graders at Golden Gate Elementary, were excited to choose their cereal. They both love Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
“We are thankful,” Kelly said.
“I feel happy and I feel thankful,” Michael added.
The Laurel Oak students got to choose what cereal to buy and Bluey and Cinnamon Toast Crunch were the most purchased. The most popular picks at Golden Gate Elementary were Bluey, Lucky Charms, Cocoa Pebbles, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
Chrissy Anderson, principal at Laurel Oak, was previously principal at a school that received the cereal, so she knows how important it is to give students some extra food during the summer.
“This act of service is powerful for our school community,” Anderson said.