Students in kindergarten through second grade at West Hartford’s Morley School made the 21st annual delivery of non-perishables to restock the food pantry at Town Hall.

By Ronni Newton

Suzanne Oslander waited on the steps of West Hartford Town Hall Wednesday morning, eager for the arrival of 66 wagonfuls of food that Morley School’s youngest students would deliver to the Food Pantry in the school’s 21st annual Red Wagon Food Drive.

Every year since 1995, Morley’s kindergartners, first-graders, and second-graders – accompanied by their teachers, administrators, and many parents, and escorted by the West Hartford Police and Fire Departments – make the 1.22-mile trek from the school to Town Hall pulling red wagons full of non-perishables.

“We are certainly grateful for the donation because over the summer our shelves get pretty bare,” said Oslander, the director of Community Partnerships for Human & Leisure Services which oversees the West Hartford Food Pantry.

Last year, and in the past few years, the Food Pantry has been giving out more than 5,000 bags a year to needy residents. As recently as 2007, the Pantry gave out just 700 bags per year, Oslander said.

It’s an event that Morley students and staff look forward to every year – but also a cause that makes a tremendous difference to West Hartford residents who rely on the Food Pantry to provide the staples they need to feed themselves and their families.

Kristen Fritz, said her son Joey, a Morley first-grader, was very excited to make the trip to Town Hall, but began the day worried because he was afraid that there weren’t enough wagons this year. Fritz said that about 30 more wagons showed up this morning, and the donation met its goal.

“It’s pretty cold out here today, but we made it with 66 wagons full of food,” said Morley second-grade teacher Dawn O’Connor, who organizes both the Red Wagon drive and the Morley Backpack Brigade which is a school-supply donation held in the spring.

O’Connor said that about the same amount of food was donated this year as last year after a last minute call for additional items and wagons. She said she was very pleased with the turnout.

The trek to Town Hall is an important part of the experience, and O’Connor thinks it makes a long-lasting impression on the young students. “It’s hard work. Community service is hard work and they remember it because it’s in their muscle memory … After doing it three years in a row [kindergarten through second grade] it really gets the kids to remember to give,” O’Connor said.

Barbara Roberts, volunteer coordinator for the West Hartford Food Pantry, thanked the students – and their tired feet – for making the trek.

“You will help your neighbors. You will allow us to stock our shelves and deliver food to our neighbors in town who need it,” Roberts said. “Next week is Thanksgiving, and when I think about what I am thankful for I’m going to think about how thankful I am to Morley for the bounty of food that we will be able to share during the winter months.”

Morley Principal Ryan Cleary said he is proud of his students and this is one of his favorite days as principal of the school.

“What you did today has great impact on you, and on the community, and will keep having impact throughout the holidays,” Cleary told his students.

Superintendent Tom Moore told the students that they are heroes. He told them to look around, where reporters were taking notes and snapping photos. “The news wants to tell stories about heroes and you get to be heroes because of what you do – today, being nice to people you can’t even see,” Moore said.

Additional donations to the Food Pantry are welcome, and can be dropped off at the Customer Service Desk in the Town Hall lobby, Monday through Friday betwen 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Needed items include boxed cereals (small or average, not extra large); canned spaghetti; canned soups (small size); canned vegetables; canned beans of all types; small canned meats (spam, ham, chicken); tuna; canned fruit; peanut butter; jelly; pasta; spaghetti sauce (not extra large),\; macaroni and cheese, tuna and hamburger helper; rice (brown or white); mixes, bottles or cans of juice; coffee; and tea.

Financial contributions will also be accepted and can be sent to: Town That Cares Food Pantry, 50 South Main St., West Hartford, CT 06107.

For more information on donating food or how you can help, contact Suzanne Oslander at [email protected] or 860-561-7580.

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