McCleary School ASB Serves Community Through Food Bank Partnership

When the ESD 113 team stepped into a middle school leadership classroom this fall to honor McCleary as an In Their Element recipient, evidence of their close partnership with the McCleary Food Bank was all around us. 

The hustle and bustle of McCleary Food Bowl operations were in full swing, where middle school leadership students sorted thousands of pounds of donations destined for the McCleary Food Bank. This annual drive is just one element of a year-round partnership between McCleary student leaders and their local food bank. 

At McCleary School, the dedication of this class of middle school leadership students was tangible as they coordinated the annual McCleary Food Bowl drives this November. The hustle and bustle of sorting through thousands of pounds of donations is just one element of their partnership with the local food bank. 

McCleary Associated Student Body (ASB) members also volunteer at the McCleary Food Bank once a month, connecting directly with community members who need support. Students help organize food, bag orders, and assist attendees as they shop for groceries. At the food bank, these students are in their element, using their skills and compassion to serve their neighbors.

The work began as a potential one-time or two-time project, but when ASB members first walked into the food bank, they discovered something that changed their perspective. They saw elderly people and families who needed help. What started small has grown because students genuinely want to continue.

"When I didn't volunteer down there, I never knew how many people actually needed it," ASB Vice President Freya Scott said. "When I started volunteering down there, it really put things into perspective at how much this food goes toward helping people."

At the food bank, students learn to work quickly in a busy environment, follow directions, and adapt to changing tasks. They work across several stations—they pack orders in the packaging room, hand out specific items like potatoes and canned goods, and help people load groceries into their cars. 

"It's become a really big part of our school,” she added. “When Ms. Brown asks who wants to go to the food bank, everybody raises their hands. I think it's really important to grow connections with our own town community, especially because it's such a small community, too."

The week following the award, McCleary shared the final tally from the Food Bowl: ASB students collected nearly 7,900 pounds of donations for the McCleary Food Bank while hosting a contest between classrooms. The entire school has a heart for their tight-knit town. 

"I am so proud of my students," ASB Advisor Kelsi Brown said. "They truly enjoy volunteering at the food bank each month. They have seen firsthand the need in our community and it has made them more driven to make this food bowl a success. Through this experience, they have found that they aren't too young to make a difference, and it is my hope that they continue to look for ways to serve their community in the future."

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The ESD 113 Board recognizes one student group each month with the In Their Element Award. This honor celebrates programs where students explore, create, and lead. It amplifies student voice and student-led activities that engage young people in meaningful ways