NORTH SALT LAKE—Stacks and stacks of cereal lined the front commons area of Orchard Elementary last week after kindergarteners through sixth graders brought cereal to the school during a two week drive for donations to the Center of Hope Food Pantry. The student council delivered the cereal on Monday.

“There’s well over 500 boxes and more are still coming,” said Mary Ellen Dworshak with the pantry. “They donated more than 1,000 pounds. We’ve been running low and kids like their cereal. Believe me we don’t get much cereal so this is amazing.”

The pantry began 2023 serving 800 individuals a month, she said. “By October we were up to 1,600 and growing. We always need pasta, rice, canned meat and diapers, wipes, etc. We’re happy to take most items people can share.”

Performance Automotive has been paying the rent for the pantry for the last three years. “We pay every month so they can put more into bringing in food,” said Patricia Byrne, Business Development Director for Performance Automotive. “It’s important to our Bountiful dealerships to feel a part of the community.”

“We couldn’t do what we do if we didn’t have the support,” said Dworshak. 

The tower of cereal was taller than the kids in the student council who organized the drive. “We were trying to think of a service project to do and Mrs. Brazelton gave us the great idea of a drive,” said Sam, a sixth grader and member of the student council at Orchard. “We tried to collect as much as we could. It’s amazing to see people care so much about bringing cereal to people who can’t get it.”

“It’s incredible to see that the kindergarten to sixth graders care so much,” said Rory, another student council member. “The object of the student council is to help students recognize that what they’re doing can make a difference in the community. This cereal might be for kids that don’t get cereal. It’s incredible to see the school come together and care so much.”

The student council has been brainstorming about ideas of a service project, said Advisor Megan Brazelton. “As soon as they heard about this that washed away any other ideas. It’s amazing when the community finds out there’s a need at the school they go for it.”

The kids created posters, she said. “They went around to every classroom every day since collecting cereal. It was so cute watching them walking in with cereal.”

“It’s outstanding to me the support from the community,” said Principal Heidi Short. “When there’s a need they stand right up and fulfill that need every time.”

The student council is made up of sixth graders. “This group of 12 kids are go-getters,” Brazelton said. “They don’t ever want to stop – literally – they’re just amazing kids. They care 100% about their fellow student council members and sixth graders. They also care about the younger kids to make sure they are thriving.”

When a new student comes they meet them and greet them, Short said. “They tour them around and take them to the lunchroom and show them the library and answer any questions. We love it here. We love our jobs, it's a great place to be.”