Fisher Food Drive Shows Students Care

The generosity of the Fisher Elementary community was on full display during this winter’s Fisher Food Drive to benefit Project Hope.

First started during the 2017-2018 school year, the latest version of the food drive brought in over 3,000 pounds of food, plus plenty of additional toilet paper, diapers, wipes, Ziplock bags and paper towels. In all, the Fisher students donated over 5,600 items.

“It was amazing to see the community supported this way,” says Tausha Caldarella, Fisher counselor. “The energy was high around bringing food in and over the abundance of giving that took place.”

One family was able to use work connections at Fred Meyer to get donations from the store.

“We started this food drive to help create a sense of belonging for students in our home community,” Caldarella says. “It has grown to become an amazing demonstration of love, service and compassion for their community. Students get excited to help provide support to others, even to families within their own school who use Project Hope.”

This year’s drive ran from Jan. 31 through Feb. 8 and saw Fisher classrooms compete to bring in food to help Project Hope, which serves families within the Lynden Schools boundaries.

Caldarella says the students get excited about the annual event and she hears how much they love to help families and how the students feel good about making others in their happy.

“Our student body loves to help others,” she says. “They are learning to create belonging through the simple act of providing food for those in need. Our hope this year is to continue this legacy of support and encourage kids to think outside the box in more ways they can create belonging.”

The 2022 version continues to build a tradition of helping others at Fisher. “I am proud to be Fisher Elementary’s school counselor,” Caldarella says, “and proud of the students’ demonstration of compassion.”