MIDLAND, Texas — With Thanksgiving right around the corner, the West Texas Food Bank is preparing to serve many in the region.
On Monday, the food bank got support from Trinity School of Midland through a fun initiative.
Trinity celebrated 'International Bread Day' and tied that into giving back.
Students who brought Thanksgiving items for donations could sample different types of bread, providing a little incentive in a time of need.
“This is truly the most magical time of the year because you really get to watch our entire community come together and feed their neighbors,” said Libby Stephens, CEO of the West Texas Food Bank.
On Monday, the food was dough.
“I think we have at least 36 different kinds of bread,” said Shannon Weisenfels, director of spiritual life, community, and belonging at Trinity School.
That dough brought even more to the table.
“Whenever we have the opportunity to remind our students that when we are given a lot, when we’ve received a lot – a lot is expected of us," Weisenfels said. "And we do have the power, even as young kids, to give back to the community and to make a difference, so we like to take those opportunities whenever we can.”
Students helped to fill up four West Texas Food Bank barrels with donations.
“It’s really important because it may seem like $10 bucks worth of food that you’re donating just to try a bit of bread, but to other people it's another day’s meal that they can consume, they get to live another day, they get to feed their families, and so while it may seem insignificant to us it’s big for all the people we’re helping," said Lucas Gordon, a student at Trinity School.
The food bank says the need has never been greater, which is part of what makes what Trinity is doing so impactful.
“They are truly committed – not only to the little people that attend in these four walls – but they are committed to the community in which this school belongs to," Stephens said. "And so, to see a food drive like this and for them to continue to come up with innovative and creative ways to help out the community truly is something special, and we know that there are going to be future leaders in this school that are going to make a difference in their community’s that they choose to live in later on.”
A cornerstone of the school is servant leadership, with today’s food drive serving as an example.
“In this world, there are going to be some people who just need more help than others and I feel like it’s always important to contribute to that and help them improve their lives," Gordon said.
With the need at an all-time high, Stephens said any food, money, or volunteerism would help the 19 counties served by the West Texas Food Bank.
Stephens added that any monetary donation will currently be matched by the Abell-Hangar Foundation, doubling the impact.
Donations can be made here.