Filling Buckets For Nourishment And Hope

The following was submitted by Gathering Change, Inc.

Teacher Stephanie Klove from the Summer Street School in Lynnfield is shown here with her second grade students Jordan Lavey and Julia Smedira putting change in a beach bucket.   Each class has been collecting spare change in these buckets for Gathering Change, Inc to give to the food pantries that service Lynnfield residents.  Mrs. Klove spoke to the Student Council about what an impact they could have for the children around them who go to bed hungry. The inspired students then created slogans which they put on posters around the school.  “Collect change to make change.” “Just one coin makes a difference.” “Change for children.” among others are seen everyday by the students.

Besides inspiring the children at her school to collect change in beach buckets, Stephanie herself has been inspired to find multiple ways of gathering change.  She collected at her book club, at staff holiday parties, people put change in her school mailbox, she coordinated an effort to celebrate100 days of school by collecting canned goods and coins to see if they could get 100 of each.  Besides all of this, she keeps a container on her counter at home!

“What inspires me is to inspire the kids in my school to be caring and show kindness and character,” Klove said.  “A little bit of change goes a long way.” “I am also inspired by the women of Gathering Change, Inc.”

Gathering Change, Inc. is a non-profit organization that collects people’s spare change and gives it back to the food pantries in the town it is collected in.  Gathering Change, Inc. would like to know:  What inspires you to get involved in your community?  Write Marianne Snow at: msnow@gatheringchangeinc.org.  For more information see GCI’s website: www.gatheringchangeinc.org.  Thank you Stephanie Klove!