NEEDY CARROLL County residents will have much to be thankful for today, courtesy of young people from the area who have been busy collecting warm coats and canned goods.
At Runnymede Elementary School, children from kindergarten to fifth grade collected 1,258 food items for Carroll County Food Sunday. Leading the drive was the school's guidance counselor, Jill Millison.
"I have been tying it into my guidance lessons as an act of kindness," Millison said. "I explain where the food goes, and that it helps people right here in Carroll County who may not be able to afford groceries without a little help."
Millison said the school holds the food drive throughout November until Thanksgiving break. This is the eighth year the school has conducted the drive.
The pupils have turned the drive into a fun activity.
"As an incentive, we have kept a bar graph on our morning board, charting the number of donations by each grade level," Millison said. "The students enjoy watching their grade-level bars grow."
During one week, fifth-graders doubled their donations in one day.
Pupils seemed to understand what they were accomplishing.
"I think it's a good thing," said first-grader Adelaide Kachur.
Third-grader Bobby Beall agreed. "I thought it would help people a lot that didn't have food."
For at least one pupil, the food drive is a tradition.
"I've done it every year," said third-grader Robby Griesmyer. "So I thought I could keep it going."
Millison said she was pleased with the results.
"I'm thrilled, because when I introduced it to the students at the beginning of the month, I told them we have around 600 students in the school. If everyone was willing to bring in just two cans, we could have over 1,200 donations. And they did."
In Uniontown, two enthusiastic children from St. Paul's Lutheran Church decided to expand a church food drive to include the entire town.
Each November, St. Paul's conducts a food drive within the church for Carroll County Food Sunday. This year, Brittany Hoyle, 11, and Brandon Etts, 13, made up fliers and left them at doors in town. They spent the next Saturday picking up 170 items from front porches.
"I'm real proud of these kids," said Tom Birchett, a member of the church and Uniontown resident who went with the children.
"They were real excited about it because they had never done anything like this. They gave up a Saturday, and it was raining."
Michele Hoyle, Brittany's mother, said the kids wanted to do something for the needy.
The two youths said it made them think about others.
"We have all this stuff and many people don't realize that other people don't have as much," Brittany said.
"It's nice to know that someone will be happy to be getting something. And the drive was fun."
Brandon said it also made him feel good.
"I did it because I wanted to help my community and wanted to make sure other people have a great Thanksgiving," he said. "I'd do it again."
Birchett said St. Paul's is grateful to the residents of Uniontown for their generosity.
"St. Paul's would love to thank the town, especially on such short notice," he said.
While some have been collecting canned food, members of Francis Scott Key High School's Key Club have been busy with another collection: coats for Shepherd's Staff. Shepherd's Staff is a nonprofit group that helps Carroll County residents in need.
Students have posted fliers at area supermarkets asking that coats be dropped off at a box at the school, said Julie Janowich, the club adviser and a science teacher.
Key Club is a service organization and has about 15 active members in the high school, Janowich said.
She said that the students also will collect food for the Kiwanis Club in Taneytown for use in gift baskets during the holiday.
The high school is on Bark Hill Road outside Uniontown. Information: 410-751-3320.
Basket bingo
Francis Scott Key High School Athletic Boosters will hold basket bingo at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the school's cafeteria.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. The cost will include 20 regular games. Two raffles (at extra cost) will be held. The baskets will be filled.
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and games will start at 7 p.m. Food will be for sale.
Information: 410-775-0295, 410-751-0013 or 410-876-3862.
Holiday decorating
Taneytown Heritage Committee will sponsor its annual Christmas Door/Home decorating contest.
The event will be judged the week of Dec. 15. All homes and businesses must be decorated and lighted by 5:30 p.m. every evening during the judged week.
Entry forms are available at the library and at Every Bloomin' Thing at 9 York St. until 3 p.m. Dec. 11. Residents also may register by phone.
Information: 410-756-2572.
Jean Marie Beall's Northwest neighborhood column appears each Thursday in the Carroll County edition of The Sun.