Students of Birchwood School, located at 4400 W 140 Street, have been busy helping volunteers from the Blessed Trinity parish in their efforts to feed the poor. This past spring volunteers from the Bountiful Basement, a food pantry located on the Blessed Trinity grounds, planted a garden to provide fresh vegetables for area families in need. The students have been helping enthusiastically to plant and harvest the produce, unload food trucks, gather food items for the holidays, and pack bags for needy families. Part of the school’s mission is to build solid work habits in a caring environment, while forging a sense of social responsibility within each student.
“I can’t begin to tell you what a help Birchwood has been to the Bountiful Basement, especially this Thanksgiving season,” says Bountiful Basement director Tami Graf. “Some of the eighth grade boys even help unload the food truck, a very unselfish act.”
The Bountiful Basement was formed in the late 1990’s when the Cleveland Hunger Network decided to establish sites further west of the city. In the beginning they served as few as 20 to 30 families per month. Currently that number has grown to 500 families, and during the holidays, they are expecting to help as many as 700. The students are currently gathering food items to assist the volunteers in making this holiday season a great one! Donations are always welcome at the Bountiful Basement located at 4370 W 140 Street.
