Ravens Class Volunteers at Oregon Food Bank

On Thursday, December 4, our Ravens class (4th & 5th grade students) stepped beyond the classroom and into a hands-on community care experience at the Oregon Food Bank. With sleeves rolled up and spirits high, students helped sort and package fresh potatoes and apples, beautiful harvests from local farmers, into family-sized portions that will soon be distributed to households across the region.

Throughout the morning, students worked collaboratively at sorting stations, eliminating the potatoes and apples, weighing and bagging produce while learning about food insecurity, local agriculture, and the power of collective effort. It was inspiring to watch them connect their actions to the broader mission of supporting neighbors in need. Their enthusiasm never wavered, whether they were counting apples and potatoes, tying bag after bag, or cheering each other on as pallets filled with completed packages.

This service trip was more than an opportunity to volunteer; it was a chance for the Ravens to see firsthand how small, thoughtful actions can strengthen our community. One student shared with an adult chaperone that she liked how much faster and more efficient she got at bagging potatoes as the morning went on. And another student told an adult volunteer, “This is like we are giving potato gift bags.” We’re proud of their hard work, their empathy, and the care they brought to each task. 

Thank you to the Oregon Food Bank for welcoming our students and for the incredible work they do every day. And thank you to our parent volunteers who joined us on this meaningful adventure! Over the course of a 2.5-hour session, 9,900 lbs of potatoes and apples were bagged, which equates to 8,250 meals created, and the volunteers there on Thursday each created 192 meals. Pretty satisfying statistics!

The Ravens returned to school tired, proud, a bit sore, and more deeply connected to the world around them, a reminder that when we give our time and effort, we all grow.