“I get an excited feeling when people give us so much food. It makes me feel good because I know I am making a difference in the community,” said Martinez.
Collection boxes were placed around the community at businesses for donations. Then there was the responsibility of going around and checking them to make sure they weren’t a nuisance or overloaded-they took the responsibility very seriously. It required Martinez and Larson to talk to business owners or managers, explaining their plan and their goal, and convincing them to allow the boxes to be placed in their businesses.
If you are interested in dropping off food to give to people in need, feel free to stop at the library in Maple Plain, Little Munchkins in Long Lake or the Discovery Center in Maple Plain. The food is going towards the local food shelf at MPCC, and Martinez and Larson are also taking donations for the IOCP food shelf in Plymouth.
If you are considering dropping off food, here are some specific examples of what the food shelves need: sugar (5 lb bags or less), flour, healthy snacks, cooking oils, canned meat or fish, dried fruits, dried/canned beans, easy-open, single-serving, items for those without, cooking or refrigerator options, fresh produce (vegetables, fruits, herbs), disposable diapers, fruit juice, cereal, pancake mix, syrup, dry/canned milk, coffee, canned fruit, canned vegetables, rice, pasta, canned tomato products, packaged/canned potatoes, meal-in-a-box or can, spaghetti sauce, brownies, muffin or cake mix, cream, broth and variety soups, dish/laundry soap, cleaning products, baby wipes, bathroom tissue, paper towels, facial tissue, toiletries and personal care products.
IOCP has joined a coalition of partners in this first-ever statewide campaign to close Minnesota’s gap of 100 million missing meals by 2014. The campaign hopes to increase food supply and distribution, increase awareness of the Minnesota Food Support program, and maximize nutrition programs for children.
Both of the boys continued to stress the importance of how “every little bit helps,” during the interview.
In one month alone, Larson and Martinez collected 298 lbs of food.
“The school project started about a month ago and it ends in May, however, I think that I will continue doing this or other forms of community service even after the deadline,” Larson said.
“Other middle school students are working at the humane society, watching pets around the neighborhood, babysitting, helping teachers in their classroom, and adopting a highway,” said Benjamin.
The boys hit a couple of stumbling blocks when they started out. Their wagon broke the first day so they had to call for their parents to come pick up their food, the wagon and the boys, but then they wanted to keep going so they came up with a system which involved the cooler being bungee corded to a skateboard. It was not perfect and it looked goofy but it got the job done.
“One anonymous General Mills employee donated 2 boxes of packaged baked goods alone…..he never laid an eye on the boys – just left all of it by one of their donation boxes!” Laura Larson stated later in the interview.
“With the current economy I think people have become pretty negative and cynical….I am sure I am no exception. Seeing a couple of pre-teens doing something good, thinking of someone other than themselves instead of being in the paper for something negative should make people feel good and hopefully see kids in a more positive light, so often the good things are overshadowed by the negative,” said Laura Larson.
