We Are Giving Back - 1st Grade Angels of Action Project

Our first-grade Warriors at Mecosta Elementary made a very special donation on Friday!

Back in February, Mrs. Hunt’s and Mrs. Storey’s classes teamed up for a penny drive to benefit Angels of Action, a local non-profit that serves children and families in Mecosta and Osceola counties.

"This year the one-hundredth day of school was around Valentine’s Day, so we wanted to do a first-grade project that incorporated sharing and showing love to our community along with the counting projects for hundred’s day,” said teacher Beth Storey.

The classes decided to hold a penny drive and unanimously voted to donate the money to Angels of Action. On hundred’s day, all the children brought in bags of pennies and worked tirelessly to count them out into groups of 100. Many families sent in extra pennies to benefit the project.

Angels of Action aims to fight childhood hunger by providing Backpack Blessings, which are bags of food sent home every Friday to families in need that help ensure school children have food to eat over the weekend when they are not at school. Currently, Angels of Action provides over 1,300 Backpack Blessings every Friday to over 35 schools located in Mecosta and Osceola Counties. Angels of Action also helps to provide hygiene products, clothing, books, and any other necessities that might be needed by children.  

“All of the kids are familiar with Angels of Action at school. If a child forgot their hat or coat, or needed a quick change of clothes, Angels provided some the kids can use,” explained teacher Summer Hunt. “The kids were very eager to give back and help an organization they recognized.”

On Friday, Angels of Action visited the first graders at Mecosta Elementary. They talked with the children about the importance of sharing and helping others in our community, and Mrs. Hunt and Mrs. Storey presented them with all the pennies donated by the students.

“We’re going to use this money to help provide even more food for other children in our community, so no child has to go hungry,” said Kim Easler, Executive Director for Angels of Action. “We love how excited the students were to give back to their community and to support our cause.”

Congratulations, Mecosta Elementary first graders! We are so proud to call you Warriors!