Middle School Fights Hunger In PB County Through Gleaning

Benjamin middle school students stepped out of the classroom and into the field on March 5 when they travelled to Mecca Farms in Boynton Beach, Florida to participate in a gleaning event.

The seventh grade class, lead by science teacher Stephanie Oster, spent the morning recovering tomatoes from farmers’ fields that would have otherwise gone to waste. This food recovery strategy, spearheaded by CROS Ministries, allows the harvested produce to be distributed free of charge through the Palm Beach County Food Bank to their food partners.

Feeding America estimates that 15 percent of Palm Beach County residents - or 200,000 thousand people - don’t know where their next meal will come from. A team of 63 seventh grade students and seven middle school teachers directly affected these families by collecting 150 boxes of tomatoes! Each box feeds a family of five for a week and translates to 3,500 meals.

Oster says she spoke to the students about the difference between thinking about “what” their next meal will be and “when” the next meal will be.

“This was certainly an eye opening experience,” she says.

"This was a real life problem where our students could contribute to literally a life line solution. They were very upset by how many hungry people there are right here in Florida and were so happy to get out in the fields, hand pick and make a difference. This project maximized the food energy form our local agriculture community right to the tables of hungry families in need. I am so proud to be a part of this Benjamin family."





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A premier PK3 - Grade 12 independent, coeducational day school with campuses in North Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens. Since 1960, The Benjamin School has provided a challenging college preparatory education to a diverse student body in a structured, nurturing community environment.
 
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