At Madison Elementary School, student council members Jonathan Hammonds, at left, and Malachi Bailey, at right, help Larry Ward with Inside-Out Ministries load canned food donated during the school’s collection drive. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Leading up to Thanksgiving, students at Madison Elementary School collected canned food for Inside-Out Ministries.

The Madison elementary Student Council sponsored the drive. Serving on the council committee as teacher representatives are Lori Hellums, third grade; Shannon Lilienthal, sixth grade; and Lynn Phillips, second grade.

These teachers suggested the idea for the food drive, and “students were very excited to participate and to help others,” Lilienthal said. Teachers explained how Inside-Out Ministries provides short-term emergency assistance for basic living necessities to individuals in need.

“As teacher representatives, we wanted the council and the school to realize the importance of helping others,” Lilienthal said. “The student council stresses the importance of being leaders and positive role models in our school.”

The Madison Elementary Student Council has 19 students in grades 2-6. “Each council representative gave a short speech to his or her homeroom to explain the need for the food drive,” Phillips said.

Second-grader Logan Mooney “told his homeroom that not all kids have plenty to eat like we do,” Hellums said.

The student council rallied the entire school to participate. Each morning, council members collected and placed the donated food items in boxes that they had decorated for each grade level.

While students donated all types of non-perishable food, the drive concentrated on fruits and meats, which Larry and Deborah Ward at Inside-Out indicated were the most pressing needs.

Hellums, Lilienthal and Phillips hope the food drive led to student awareness about community needs and also the importance of serving as leaders away from school.

Inside-Out Ministries, a 501(c) 3 charity, unites churches, individuals and the community. The all-volunteer organization doesn’t pay salaries and has low overhead. Founders Larry and Deborah Ward accept applications from residents who have needs for clothing, utility payments, appliances, furniture and housing.

Inside-Out’s address is 103 Gin Oaks Court, just west of Sullivan Street in downtown Madison. For more information, call 256-325-5193, email to info@inside-outministries.org or visit inside-outministries.org.