Fifth-graders from Abiqua School in South Salem today donated 116 pounds of food they had collected in a month’s time.

The students focused on collecting items from the Marion-Polk Food Share 10 Most Wanted list including: pasta, tomato products, soup, canned vegetables and fruit, peanut butter, tuna, flour, cereal and shelf-stable dairy.

The youths had an opportunity to sort the foods they collected into food categories, tour the warehouse, visit the community kitchen and taste-test MPFS’s new super patty. Tour guide Janet Spingath said the majority liked the high-protein food and garnished it with ketchup. The patties are made from lentils, oats, rice and spices.

When asked what kinds of foods MPFS should be giving out to families in need, the students said those that are healthy and have calcium to help children’s bones grow strong. Good answers! Since about 12,000 local children eat meals from an emergency food box each month, MPFS believes it is critical that those boxes be stocked with nutritious foods.

Janet, who gives a lot of tours as the volunteer services director, said she was impressed that these children and others who have visited are showing more interest in nutrition and seem to be more knowledgeable about what they are eating. That’s an excellent sign!