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Blue Springs, MO —
In 1996, Chriss Doherty wanted to start a project that would involve elementary school students in Blue Springs giving something back during the Thanksgiving holiday.
It started with just the Primetime students at Lucy Franklin. However, over the years, it has grown to include all 13 before- and after-school programs and more than 1,000 students.
“It’s a project we made up to make sure everyone has a turkey dinner on their table during the holidays,” said the Lucy Franklin Primetime coordinator. “It helps teach children the importance of giving back to their community and helping those less fortunate.”
Students and staff in all of the elementary school Primetime programs in Blue Springs have been working during November to collect donations to purchase turkeys for Harvesters. Harvesters is a Kansas City-based food bank that serves as a clearinghouse for the collection and distribution of food and other related products to organizations throughout the metropolitan area. The Primetime students also collected nonperishable food items to donate.
Each of the last two years, more than 100 turkeys have been purchased for Harvesters. In addition, hundreds of pounds of food have been collected and donated.
Doherty said there is no set goal as to how many turkeys are purchased each year. She said they purchase as many as the donations will allow from the Price Chopper North store in Blue Springs.
“It was a lesson taught to me growing up and became my passion, so I felt the need to pass it on to other children,” she said about her reason to start the Turkey for Every Table program. “The goal was to teach children awareness that not everyone will have a Thanksgiving feast during the holidays. We want to purchase as many turkeys of various sizes to meet the needs of many families.”
Anna Martin, a Lucy Franklin student, said it makes her feel good to help families in need.
“I worked so hard to earn $20 to make a donation,” she said. “It just feels good to work for a good cause.”
In 1996, Chriss Doherty wanted to start a project that would involve elementary school students in Blue Springs giving something back during the Thanksgiving holiday.
It started with just the Primetime students at Lucy Franklin. However, over the years, it has grown to include all 13 before- and after-school programs and more than 1,000 students.
“It’s a project we made up to make sure everyone has a turkey dinner on their table during the holidays,” said the Lucy Franklin Primetime coordinator. “It helps teach children the importance of giving back to their community and helping those less fortunate.”
Students and staff in all of the elementary school Primetime programs in Blue Springs have been working during November to collect donations to purchase turkeys for Harvesters. Harvesters is a Kansas City-based food bank that serves as a clearinghouse for the collection and distribution of food and other related products to organizations throughout the metropolitan area. The Primetime students also collected nonperishable food items to donate.
Each of the last two years, more than 100 turkeys have been purchased for Harvesters. In addition, hundreds of pounds of food have been collected and donated.
Doherty said there is no set goal as to how many turkeys are purchased each year. She said they purchase as many as the donations will allow from the Price Chopper North store in Blue Springs.
“It was a lesson taught to me growing up and became my passion, so I felt the need to pass it on to other children,” she said about her reason to start the Turkey for Every Table program. “The goal was to teach children awareness that not everyone will have a Thanksgiving feast during the holidays. We want to purchase as many turkeys of various sizes to meet the needs of many families.”
Anna Martin, a Lucy Franklin student, said it makes her feel good to help families in need.
“I worked so hard to earn $20 to make a donation,” she said. “It just feels good to work for a good cause.”
