Food-n-Fun: Communities Combine to End Local Hunger

Mount Vernon Presbyterian School and Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church have long been related by sharing the same campus as well as community members. Two years ago, to further strengthen their partnership, a Church/School Relations Committee was formed to work on community service projects. This year, in conjunction with both the School’s and the Church’s food drives, the committee encouraged participation in the Community Assistance Center (CAC) Food’n Fun Festival held at North Springs High School.
  
The church and school collectively held a special food drive for CAC in the spring. Together, they collected over 3,000 pounds of food, and won 3rd place in CAC’s group category for Most Food Collected.
Additionally, MVPS/MVPC sponsored and decorated three themed grocery carts for the Food ‘n Fun Festival’s parade:
1) Upper School Girls Soccer cart
The Upper School Girls Soccer team rallied to pay tribute to both CAC and their love of soccer, with their sports shoes tied all around a cart full of soccer balls donning the slogan, “Let’s kick hunger’s butt!” Sophomore soccer team member Megan Lienau has been very active in helping CAC in the past, and was thrilled to have her team show such strong support. “I’m so happy they’re all here, and that they see how great CAC is! I think we’re showing we should always help out CAC, since they’re helping people right here in our community.”
2) Middle School’s Cookie Monster cart
Fifth grade teacher Jenny Novoselsky oversaw the construction of the Middle School cart. Isabella Moffett, a fifth grade student, was very excited to participate in the festival. “I like helping other people. Doing something like this brings awareness to the community of what the needs are,” said Isabella.
3) MVPC cart
Ethan Ray, a church member and MVPS seventh grader, conceived the idea for the church cart, which was a visual play on the words, “MVPC loves the Sandy Springs Community and CAC!” Ethan was excited to design a cart that church members of all ages could help decorate, saying, “It’s fun to get to do something like this to help CAC – especially when it’s something I like to do anyway.”
All of the teens worked together at school and at church to plan and execute the design of these carts. Together, all the three carts won the award for being Most Inspirational!
Also, several members of the National Honor Society at Mount Vernon, under the direction of Director of College Counseling Erin McCubbin, worked the various booths and games, making a positive impact on this local festival with endless smiles and encouragement for all the children who attended. Junior Jacob Buck, a new NHS inductee, said, “This has been so much fun! I love hanging out with the kids!”
With great appreciation, we thank the members of the Church/School Relations Committee for being leaders in our community: Elizabeth Berkman, Emily Goldman, Wendy Hagenau, Brad Hahn, Jenny Novoselsky, and Elizabeth Small. We also thank Erin McCubbin, students in the National Honor Society, Allison Toller, and all of the community members of Mount Vernon Presbyterian School and Church for being present to make a difference.