‘Be someone’s lucky charm”: Jefferson Middle School collects cereal for food pantry

Lisa Vidaurri Bowling, The Monroe News
Updated ·3 min read
1

MONROE — Monday morning, Jefferson Middle School students lined the hallway cheering as 10-year-old Evelyn Cangealose, a fifth-grader, gently pushed over a “Lucky Charms” cereal box, creating a domino effect.

More than 100 cereal boxes had been placed in the middle of the hall, representing less than half of the boxes collected during March. The goal was to collect 200 boxes of cereal to donate to the Oaks of Righteousness/Oaks Village food pantry.

Community Outreach Director for Oaks Chelsea MacAdam, Oaks of Righteousness Christian Church Pastor Heather Boone along with Jefferson Middle School students watch as fifth grade teacher Anita Passon guides fifth grader Evelyn Cangealose, 10, to give the cereal box a push as some 100 boxes fell over as dominoes Monday, March 18, 2024 as part of the program theme "Be Someone's Lucky Charm."

Pastor Heather Boone and Chelsea MacAdam from Oaks attended the event and thanked the students for their generosity.

“You guys have made my Monday,” Heather Boone said.

“You’re amazing,” said Chelsea MacAdam, executive outreach director. “This is so cool and it will help so many families.”

Jefferson Middle School students watch as the boxes of cereal domino down the hallway as some 100 boxes fell.
Jefferson Middle School students watch as the boxes of cereal domino down the hallway as some 100 boxes fell.

Earlier that morning, MacAdam said she had visited the pantry and there were only two boxes of cereal on the shelves. The school’s donation was needed.

The project named “Be Someone’s Lucky Charm” was coordinated by Anita Passon, a fifth grade teacher and yearbook moderator. Passon had support from Andrea Thomas and Melissa Hall, student council co-moderators.

“I noticed the Oaks of Righteousness posting on Facebook the first weekend in March and immediately knew this was something Jefferson Middle School staff and students would support and participate in,” Anita Passon said in a written statement.

Community Outreach Director for Oaks Chelsea MacAdam, Oaks of Righteousness Christian Church Pastor Heather Boone, and Jefferson Middle School students Breann Angel and Rebecca Wilder pack up the cereal boxes to take to Oaks Village Food Pantry as part of the program "Be Someone's Lucky Charm."
Community Outreach Director for Oaks Chelsea MacAdam, Oaks of Righteousness Christian Church Pastor Heather Boone, and Jefferson Middle School students Breann Angel and Rebecca Wilder pack up the cereal boxes to take to Oaks Village Food Pantry as part of the program "Be Someone's Lucky Charm."

She reached out to Thomas and Hall to see if the two clubs could collaborate.

Passon said the cereal “Lucky Charms” was designated the “spokes cereal” and a bulletin board was created on which each grade was assigned a “Lucky Charms” marshmallow symbol.

Subscribe Now: For all the latest local developments, breaking news and high school sports content.

Pink hearts were assigned to the eighth grade; seventh grade - green shamrocks; sixth grade - blue half moons; fifth grade - violet horseshoes and yellow stars went to staff. Student names were placed on the board’s rainbow.

Passon said each morning, student council members staffed the cereal station where students brought donations and received a shamrock pencil.

Jefferson Middle School students Kaycee Tammarine, Allie Onstott, Harlie VanWashenova, a classmate, and Destiny Walker wait to pack up the cereal boxes to take to Oaks Village Food Pantry as part of the program "Be Someone's Lucky Charm."
Jefferson Middle School students Kaycee Tammarine, Allie Onstott, Harlie VanWashenova, a classmate, and Destiny Walker wait to pack up the cereal boxes to take to Oaks Village Food Pantry as part of the program "Be Someone's Lucky Charm."

“They filled out a slip of paper with their names for each box they donated and dropped the slip into their grade’s assigned bucket with the corresponding colors,” Passon said.

During the project, some teachers offered extra credit to students who donated.

Jefferson Middle School fifth grader Courtney Peterson carries the cereal boxes to pack up after some 100 boxes domino down the hallway at school.
Jefferson Middle School fifth grader Courtney Peterson carries the cereal boxes to pack up after some 100 boxes domino down the hallway at school.

In an email to Passon from Mike Petty, eighth grade social studies teacher, Petty wrote, ”Students and parents began donating cereal in the name of other students so they could also get extra credit. Some students donated cereal and didn’t want to be recognized.”

During the project, every Friday, a student’s name from each grade along with a staff member’s name was pulled. Yesterday, at the end of the project, two winners from each grade along with a staff member were added to the list of winners. This morning, 20 winners were treated to a “Lucky Charms” breakfast with juice and a donut.

“This project brought out the best in our students and staff,” Passon said. “I wasn’t surprised by the generosity, just proud of and humbled by all who participated in this worthy cause for our community.”

Jefferson Middle School students Courtney Peterson, Ally Anders, Breann Angel, Rebecca Wilder carry boxes out with Community Outreach Director for Oaks Chelsea MacAdam to take to the cereal to Oaks Village Food Pantry as part of the program "Be Someone's Lucky Charm."
Jefferson Middle School students Courtney Peterson, Ally Anders, Breann Angel, Rebecca Wilder carry boxes out with Community Outreach Director for Oaks Chelsea MacAdam to take to the cereal to Oaks Village Food Pantry as part of the program "Be Someone's Lucky Charm."

Cereal needed

At the beginning of March, Oaks of Righteouseness/Oaks Village posted a need for cereal on its Facebook page.

The goal was to collect 5,000 boxes, enough to provide for families who visit the shelter for the next two months. In February, the food pantry served 1,650 people.

Chelsea MacAdam, executive outreach director at Oaks, asked local businesses to post signs and put out collection boxes to collect cereal throughout the month.

As part of community service Dwayne Logwood placing the cereal boxes onto shelves at Oaks Village Food Pantry that were collected from Jefferson Middle School as part of the program at Oaks "Be Someone's Lucky Charm."
As part of community service Dwayne Logwood placing the cereal boxes onto shelves at Oaks Village Food Pantry that were collected from Jefferson Middle School as part of the program at Oaks "Be Someone's Lucky Charm."

“We have never had ONE cereal box go to waste and even our shelter uses the cereal to feed our kids and residents! Please help us out!” the post said.

MacAdam said two schools along with several local businesses started collecting and donating cereals but more is needed.

To donate, call 734-244-5444 or go to Oaks Victory Village, 924 E. Second St.

Next month, the pantry is asking for donations of peanut butter and jelly.

— Contact reporter Lisa Vidaurri-Bowling at lvidaurribowling@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: ‘Be someone’s lucky charm”: Jefferson Middle School collects cereal for food pantry