Wilder students collect 365 boxes of cereal for needy youngsters

Kids love to munch on cereal. And knowing that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, sixth graders at Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary School conducted a Breakfast Buddies drive and collected 365 boxes of cereal for clients of Redmond-based Friends of Youth.

Wilder is a Lake Washington School District school located in Woodinville. Friends of Youth president and CEO Ed Belleba stopped by the school on Thursday to present a certificate of appreciation, on behalf of the homeless or at-risk young people that the agency assists.

Debbie Love, a parent volunteer at Wilder, explained that the school tries to tie its annual community service projects to needs that are close-to-home and personal. For example, last year, the Wilder students collected gently used books for low-income and ESL (English as a Second Language) children at Woodin Elementary in Bothell.

“From last year’s project, I learned that there are a lot of children in our immediate area whose families are struggling. What our children take for granted — warm house, warm clothes, meals, et cetera — others dream about,” said Love.

She found that many families who qualify to receive free breakfast in school don’t take advantage of it, either because they’re too proud or not aware that it is offered. After contacting the staff at Friends of Youth, she felt that bringing in boxes of their own favorite cereals would be a good way for the Wilder students to focus on the importance of starting each day with a healthy meal and making a difference in the lives of peers who don’t have enough to eat.

In addition to the cereal donations, the Wilder students decorated reusable tote bags for Friends of Youth clients.

For more information about Friends of Youth and how you can help, call (425) 869-6490 or visit www.friendsofyouth.org.