D-NH students put new spin on holiday food drive

For years, most food drives have followed the same template. Bring in canned goods to a local food bank, and hope that the items eventually reach families in need. This winter, however, Dike-New Hartford middle school students are trying something different: they’ve used the money they’ve raised in their classrooms to purchase slow cookers filled with ingredients and recipes to assist those struggling with hunger.

“We just thought that it’d be nice during the Christmas season. A lot of people need food, and it’s something we should try to help them with,” eighth grader Ali Steffen said.

In partnership with the United Methodist Churches in both Dike and New Hartford, the students raised over $460—mostly in spare change—and bought 21 crockpots with the money. This was the first year of the new initiative, and student council advisor Sandy Becker led the way.

Through the “Adopt a Family” program, the churches will now distribute the devices to locals in need, and as an added touch, all of the recipes came from D-NH teachers.

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People in photo: Front row (left to right): Shae Mills, Reedlyn Kannegieter, Kiersten Christiansen, Elyse Folkerts, Hanna Steffen and Natalie Folkerts. Back row: Summer Bertram, Alayna Amling, Maryn Bixby, Madelyn Norton, Sam Anema and Ali Steffen. Student council advisor Sandy Becker also worked on the project.