Franklin, Roosevelt, Cleveland, and Madison elementary schools in Rahway recently wrapped up their Second Annual “Souper” Bowl Food Drive, a community-wide effort to fight hunger. From Jan. 17 to Feb. 7, students, staff, and families donated nonperishable food items to support local families in need.
Building on the success of last year’s inaugural drive, the schools set their sights on collecting even more donations this year. A friendly competition between the schools added an extra layer of excitement to the initiative.
Dr. Patrick Holness, principal of Franklin Elementary, expressed pride in the students and staff at all four schools for their enthusiastic participation. “This initiative not only provided vital support to our community but also taught our children the importance of compassion and giving back,” said Dr. Holness. “It was truly inspiring to see their commitment to helping others.”
Donation bins were set up at each participating school, with suggested donations including canned goods (especially soup), pasta, rice, beans, peanut butter, cereal, and other non-perishable staples. Every contribution, regardless of size, made a difference for local families struggling with food insecurity.
According to a statement provided by the district, “The ‘Souper’ Bowl Food Drive showcased the Rahway community’s dedication to supporting one another and tackling hunger together. The success of this year’s drive highlighted the impact of collective action and the generosity of Rahway residents.”
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Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was reviewed and edited by NJ Advance Media staff.