Woodington Middle School 8th grader continues Thanksgiving food drive tradition
In 2019, Joshua Stroud of Woodington Middle School embarked on a mission inspired by a fellow young philanthropist he saw on television. Witnessing a peer organizing Thanksgiving food drives, Stroud was inspired to make a similar impact in his community.
“I asked my mom if she thought we could possibly do something like that around Thanksgiving, because I would like to do that,” said Stroud.
Together, they gathered supplies from the local grocery store the Saturday before Thanksgiving. The initial operation took place at his grandmother's house, facing a few challenges in its infancy, mainly centered around setup logistics and the hope that community outreach efforts, including Facebook posts and posters in Pink Hill, would yield positive results.
Since its inception, the project has evolved significantly. In 2019, around 10 families were served, but the food drive has grown totaling approximately 250-300 families helped. The initiative collects canned and non-perishable food items, as well as boxed stuffing mix, mashed potatoes, gravy, mac and cheese, muffin mix, brownie mix, and salt and pepper shakers. Building on the success of the first year, Stroud expanded the offerings to include turkey breasts.
“One of the things I’ve learned is that many people in this world really do need a good Thanksgiving dinner,” said Stroud.
Last year, Stroud was brokenhearted as the demand exceeded the available resources, leaving some without a box. Despite the challenges, Stroud remains committed to continuing the project for as long as possible.
This year, the project is set to distribute Thanksgiving packages at the Pink Hill Fire Department, with volunteers helping package and distribute the items on Saturday. Storage solutions involve generous community members offering space in their homes while shopping for supplies is a weekly undertaking. Stroud has learned that such an endeavor cannot be tackled alone and involves intricate planning, from securing enough resources to finding storage for items like freezers for turkeys.
To facilitate support and donations, Stroud has set up a Facebook page for Hopeful Harvest Foundation. Those interested in contributing can find the necessary information, including the organization's address for monetary donations via check, Venmo, or PayPal.
As Stroud balances his school responsibilities with his desire to help others, he has learned valuable lessons about undertaking such a task and the need for community support to ensure a successful Thanksgiving for those in need. The Woodington Middle School 8th grader's dedication to this cause serves as a commendable example of youthful altruism in action.
Photos submitted from Eve Stroud, and reflect Josh Stroud’s Thanksgiving Food Drive over the last few years.
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