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In-service learning project will help to feed the hungry
By jeanne starmack
lowellville
Consider the average homeless person, and ask yourself — why do you think he became homeless? Two weeks ago, ninth-graders in Lisa Iberis’ language-arts classes were asked to do just that.
Their answers back then?
“I thought they were someone who was, like, lazy and didn’t get a job,” said Nick Frank.
“Lazy and poor,” said Evan Amos. “They don’t care about money that much.”
But Nick, Evan and their classmates have learned a lot in the past two weeks, and they volunteered different answers to the same question in class Monday.
“I think there are some [lazy people],” Nick said. “But definitely more people who are just in bad situations.”
“Some people couldn’t succeed as much as other people that tried,” Evan said.
“A lot of people are losing their jobs,” said Jasmine Anderson. “They can’t pay off their debts and become homeless.”
Woven into their lesson on causes and effects, problems and solutions, was the hard lesson taught by a shaky national economy.
“Companies lost money, so they have to lay off people, and they go into foreclosure and lose their houses,” said Marissa Cattoi.
Also woven into the lesson is English, explained student teacher Dena Provenzale, with assigned reading of speeches, articles and editorials. On the slate for Monday’s class was a speech President Barack Obama made in May when he visited V&M Star in Youngstown, in which he talked about how his policies helped the economy in this area.
The students have been researching, too — for example, on the Second Harvest Food Bank’s website.
And they’ve been coming up with ways to help.
“If you come across someone who doesn’t have what you have, help out,” said Jasmine. “Give them money or something to stay warm in winter.”
“Have fundraisers,” offered Brian Grover.
“Donate old clothes,” said Natalie Notareschi.
“Donate money,” said Dom DeFrank.
Patrick Mangine said he plans to work in a soup kitchen this year.
Second Harvest is the big beneficiary of the classes’ in-service learning project.
The food bank, which distributes food to hunger-relief organizations such as shelters and church pantries in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties, is on track to receive an estimated 1,100 food items from a food drive the ninth- graders started this week at the Lowellville campus.
The media were notified about the drive. Students had a contest to see whose press release would be sent to the newspapers, and Kayla Theisler won.
Vince Hynes won a flier contest, with a pointing Uncle Sam reminding students in the hallways that he wants them to donate to Second Harvest.
Monday’s take for Second Harvest, Iberis announced after students checked bins set up for donations and returned to the classroom, was 228 items.
The public can be part of the solution to the problem of hunger in the Valley, too.
Anyone wishing to donate to the Lowellville food drive can drop off items at the school’s main office on Ralph Conti Drive off state Route 289.