6-27-2024 9:40pm

Eisenhower staff and students provided their helping hands to feed the needy

Donnella Tilery Editor

There is no stopping the students and staff from reaching their goals at the Eisenhower Intermediate School. The mission of the Helping Hands club and the Student Council at Eisenhower was attained once again—for the 10th year. The students meet their challenges due to the inspiration of such dedicated staff members as Deb Ronning.

The energetic Ms. Ronning, who is the 5th Grade English Language Arts and Enrichment Teacher at Eisenhower, also serves as the Student Council Co-Advisor with Kim Patullo, who is the school’s Grade 6 Guidance Counselor.

Ms. Ronning explained this worthy mission. “For the 10th year, Helping Hands and Student Council representatives of Eisenhower participated in Rise Against Hunger. Rise Against Hunger is a humanitarian organization that packs and provides meals to students around the globe in need of nourishing food. Meals are also distributed to communities after crises like earthquakes or hurricanes.”

Students in both clubs raise the funds necessary to bring the organization to the school, according to Ms. Ronning. “This year, David's Cookies and Cheesecakes were sold to generate the $4,000 needed,” she said. So on the second-to-last day of the 2023-2024 school year, students and fellow devoted staff members, including Principal Dr. Laura Bassett and Assistant Principal Brian Smith, worked together at various stations in Eisenhower’s media center to package meals consisting of rice, soy, vegetables, and vitamins.

Ms. Ronning, Ms. Patullo, Dr. Bassett and Mr. Smith were joined in this food processing production by the devoted Helping Hands Advisors, Gretchen Alvarez and Stephanie Rovi, and Eisenhower Secretary Linda Hermus, whom Ms. Ronning claimed “always helps.”

Once the tireless effort was complete, Ms. Ronning reported that the mission was accomplished.

“We met our goal of packing 10,000 meals!”