Students putting on food drive for Helping Hands

Published 8:51 am Thursday, June 23, 2016

Four incoming Cassopolis freshmen have decided to help fill the shelves of the food pantry at Helping Hands this summer.

Nick Zimmerman, Evan Avagon and Kyland Supraseuth have already begun their community service, which is needed in order to graduate from Cassopolis High School.

Zimmerman is the neighbor of Helping Hands coordinator Mary Tompi.

“Whenever I ask her for money for a walk-a-thon or Ranger football she always helps me,” Zimmerman said. “Kyland, Evan and I decided to donate our time at Helping Hands.”

Tompi asked the trio to organize the food pantry as one of their first projects.

“It didn’t take long because there is not very much food,” Zimmerman said. “I had helped my grandma with a food drive for Helping Hands at Subway. My friends and I thought maybe we could start another one. Evan and Kyland said it would be more productive than just sitting around.

“So instead of just working in the store we are going around neighborhoods with wagons to collect food. Anything will help. Thee are only two jars of peanut butter left in our pantry. You will see the three of us out asking for your help. Miss Mary calls us ‘Rangers to the Rescue.’ Evan, Kyland, Trent (Conrad) and I ask you to please help us, and Miss Mary not to turn anyone away hungry. Anything is a good thing.”

“I want to help with the Rangers to the Rescue food drive because I want to be able to give back to the community and this is the only way I know how,” Conrad added.

Tompi was thrilled that these students are willing to help out their community.

“I was happy when these students volunteered to have a food drive for Helping Hands of Cass County,” she said. “Keeping the food pantry fully stocked to meet our clients’ needs is an on-going need in this community and can become very challenging. We strive to provide clients with nutritionally balanced products.

“Each food box contains meat, bread, grains/rice, canned vegetables, canned fruit, juice and cereal. If a client needs personal care items such was deodorant, bar soap, shampoo, toothpaste or toothbrushes, these are also available. New clients are issued a voucher for a gallon of milk and a dozen eggs from the local grocery store.”

Tompi said that the Rangers to the Rescue will be collecting food for Helping Hands July 22.

“On Friday, July 22, there will be a table set up in front of our store at 130 S. Broadway if you would rather drop off your food donations then,” she said. “We thank you for everything you can do as a community to help fill the pantry.

“Thank you Nicholas, Evan, Kyland and Trent for stepping up and organizing this food drive for our organization.”