A Hands-On Learning Experience
During the visit, students toured both the Food Bank’s stock area and shopping area, gaining a firsthand understanding of how this vital community resource operates. We were surprised by many of the facts we learned, including:
- The Food Bank serves 30–70 State College households every day.
- Community members are able to shop there once every 30 days.
- The Food Bank also supports other local organizations that support families in need, such as Easter Seals, Park Forest Preschool, and St. Andrews Episcopal Church.
- Many local grocery stores donate food items that are close to expiration.
- The State College Food Bank shares food with other food banks in Centre County that may have fewer resources available.
Students saw the incredible amount of effort required to keep the Food Bank running smoothly—from sorting donations by expiration date to organizing shelves and preparing food for distribution. For many, highlights included stepping inside the giant refrigerator, feeling the chilly blast of the freezer (now full of turkeys!), exploring the loading dock, and even weighing themselves (and their teachers!) on the oversized industrial scale.
A Community Effort: 225 Pounds of Food Donated
We were proud to bring contributions of our own. Thanks to the generosity of our families, the K/1 and 4/5 classes arrived at the Food Bank with 175 pounds of food loaded onto the bus.
This total included 50 pounds of potatoes grown by our Kindergarten and 1st grade studentsThis is on top of the hundreds of additional pounds donated throughout the month of November during the school’s ongoing food drive. Thank you to every family who helped make this possible—our students were able to experience the difference we can make when we work together.
Learning That Sticks
Inspired by what they saw, our younger learners are now wrapping up their Food Bank exploration through hands-on math lessons involving shapes, weight, height, and length. Connecting classroom learning to real-world experiences reinforces how academic skills are connected to deeper understanding of community needs.
For our older students, the trip sparked thoughtful conversations about food insecurity, community support, and the many ways they can make a positive impact through service and donations. They left with a greater sense of responsibility and excitement about continuing to make a difference.
We are grateful for the opportunity to support our greater Centre County community while learning together. What a powerful reminder that even our youngest students can be leaders in kindness, generosity, and change.