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Titan student group collects food for the needy, seeks more work

A ton of help

photo Britt Combs

These young philanthropists make a difference every day. Seen here are MHS Student Serve members (from left) Kristen Gates, Teela Rumfelt, Macie Shuford and Garret Grindstaff along with the club's faculty advisor, Kori Elliott.

By Britt Combs | The McDowell News

Published: October 29, 2009

A couple of months ago, the Student Serve group at McDowell High School didn't exist; now they have fed thousands of hungry mouths, warmed the cold and soothed the weary heart.

And they say they don't have enough to do.

Founded by Macie Shuford and Garret Grindstaff, and sponsored by faculty member Kori Elliott, Student Serve seeks to make the community a better place for all through service projects both big and small.

The work began with a food drive that has collected a ton of food -- quite literally, well more than a ton -- to stock the shelves of Mann Food Bank, the Asheville-based regional relief organization. The food drive had several components.

Spectators at a September Titans football game were asked to bring food items to place in a collection bin at the ticket booth. As an incentive, those bringing food were given a discount on the game ticket price. That alone, said Principal Ben Talbert, was very successful

"We placed a box in every homeroom," Shuford explained, "and we had a contest to see who could collect the most." And the response of the MHS students and faculty was a credit to the community spirit and charitable tradition for which the school has long been known.

"It was a close call between Ms. Grindstaff's room and the Wee Titans," Shuford continued, but the Wee Titans pulled ahead in the end.

One day, she said, "we stood outside Frisbee's Grocery store in Old Fort and asked people to buy something extra to donate as they went in. We collected more than 200 cans that day."

The Wee Titans, a More at Four program for 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds based at the school, will reap the reward of a donut breakfast Wednesday morning for their efforts. Meanwhile the members of Student Serve delivered all the food to Manna that evening, for distribution throughout the region and in McDowell.

When Manna received the food, they weighed it at 3,440 pounds. That meant Students Serve came in third, Elliott said, in the region.

"We received an award of $150," she said, "We are thinking of using the money towards Project Christmas here at our school."

The kids in the group have gotten interested in relieving the needs of the poor in cold weather as well. During a recent Saturday morning trip to Asheville to feed breakfast to some of the city's needy and homeless population, the group members, alarmed at how cold it was and how poorly dressed some of the street people were, reached into their own pockets and purchased toboggans and gloves to give out.

Principal Ben Talbert said he could not be more proud of the projects the kids come up with and the enthusiasm with which they go at it.

"They come up with all this on their own," he said, and are always looking for more ways to serve.

"Garret here is going to Africa of a medical trip with Grace Church," Talbert added, as another example of the commitment to helping others that distinguished the club.

When the group was featured in an earlier edition of The McDowell News, Shuford mentioned that she hoped members of the community would call with requests for the group to pitch in. That invitation didn't get much response, Talbert said.

Elliott agreed, these kids are anxious to roll up their sleeves, get to work and make McDowell a better place. You can call the high school at 652-7920 or e-mail Kori Elliott at kori.elliott@mcdowell.k12.nc.us to request or suggest a service project for the members of Student Serve.