With 40,000 items, one turkey costume, these Fox Valley schools helped

This November, students and teachers from all over the Fox Valley gave back to their communities with thousands of dollars in cash, food and other items.

They went through wish lists, collected canned goods and put together raffle baskets — and, in one case, put on a turkey costume.

Little Chute teacher Ali Armstrong said that schools giving back is “a good way to kick off the holiday season and the spirit of giving.”

Here’s the impact these schools had this November, by the numbers.

40,000 nonperishable food items collected around the Valley

Schools, school clubs and entire school districts all over the Fox Valley hosted nonperishable food drives to benefit local families and food pantries in November, including schools in Appleton, Hortonville, Little Chute, Menasha, Kaukauna, Kimberly and Neenah.

These food items, roughly estimated at 40,000 total, either went directly to school families in need or were donated to local food pantries, such as St. Vincent de Paul, the Salvation Army, Loaves and Fishes, St. Joseph Food Program and Hortonville Community Food Pantry. The true number of food items donated is likely higher, as several schools didn’t count how much they donated or gave low estimates.

$3,500 in Neenah

Neenah High School’s Helping Hunger Club, a student group dedicated to helping families in need, spent $3,500 this November to purchase food for local families, according to district communications director Jim Strick.

58 raffle baskets from Hortonville

For over a decade, Hortonville schools have helped families in need over the holidays. This month, according to Hortonville transportation director Brian Gooding, school families donated 58 baskets to raffle off. In the past, the money raised from these raffle baskets have gone to gifts, warm clothing and groceries for these families, Gooding said.

41 Thanksgiving dinners in Menasha and Neenah

At Horace Mann Elementary School, an anonymous donor, school staff, members of Alliance Church and Zuppa all came together to donate 29 full Thanksgiving dinners, turkey included, to local families this year, Strick said. And, according to a Facebook post from the Menasha Joint School District, social workers at Buttes des Morts and Gegan Elementary helped lead a food drive that donated over a dozen turkeys.

250 wish list requests granted in Kimberly

Every year, Kimberly High School’s Key Club helps fulfill holiday wishes for 50 to 60 kids under the age of 18, according to club adviser and teacher Stacy Dollevoet.

The families of these children create and submit wish lists of five items for each child — and, according to Dollevoet, the club can fulfill nearly every request thanks to the community’s help. The club also gathers and distributes food, gift cards, and gift-wrapping supplies. Dollevoet estimates the value of the donations every year comes out to over $10,000.

One teacher in a turkey costume in Little Chute

For the past 40 Thanksgivings, a Little Chute teacher has taken to the streets dressed like a turkey.

It’s the result of a contest to see which classroom can give the most. As Armstrong explained, Little Chute fifth- through eighth-grade students bring in canned goods to their classrooms through November until the day before Thanksgiving break. The grade with the most donated items gets to see their teacher dress in a turkey costume and parade outside the school on Outagamie County OO. Armstrong estimated that the competition gathered over a thousand items for local families and food pantries this year.

“Kids love competition,” said eighth-grade teacher Lisa Kortz, who donned the turkey costume this year. “It’s such a neat tradition.”

Rebecca Loroff is an education reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. She welcomes story tips and feedback. Contact her at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Appleton, Fox Valley schools donate over 40,000 food items to charity