jyoung@post-journal.com
Pictured from left are Laury Marshall, Parent as Teachers coordinator; Ari Whitmore; and Lisa Kyler, school counselor.
Submitted photo
Fourteen local families will have an extra reason to be thankful this Easter Holiday, thanks to the work of Southwestern Elementary School fourth-grade student Ari Whitmore.
In years past Southwestern Elementary has held food drives for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but this year Whitmore came up with the idea to hold another drive in the spring, with a few touches of his own.
“Ari asked to meet with (assistant Principal Matthew Kindberg) and I about an idea he had about starting a food drive for elementary students this spring,” Southwestern Elementary Principal Matt Langworthy said. “Mr. Kindberg and I brought Lisa Kyler, elementary school counselor, and Laury Marshall, Parents as Teachers coordinator, to join us in meeting with Ari. In helping Ari shape his vision, we decided that we would identify families that we could help this spring and would arrange a food and toy drive at the elementary school.”