Colonial Elementary’s different kind of food drive

At Colonial Elementary School, the community service club CES Cares recently held a food drive unlike any they had before. All donations needed to be gluten-, nut- or dairy-free for people in need who also have food allergies. “I’m dairy-free, but we can actually go to the store and buy dairy-free products. Some other people can’t,” said fifth grader Rayannah Abdulla. The donations are going to The Rachel Way Foundation, a local nonprofit organization started by parents in the Colonial School District whose daughter was diagnosed with a gluten and dairy intolerance. The family began the foundation after realizing how difficult and expensive it was to shop for someone with a food allergy. To encourage their friends to bring in donations for the cause, the CES students created posters, wrote speeches and decorated collection bins. “We got more donations than I thought we would, because gluten-free and nut-free products are hard to find,” explained Lindy Arnold, also a fifth grade student at CES. “I’m proud that we’re helping people.” Once each month, CES Cares meets in the morning before school to kick-off a new campaign. The club will be collecting new stuffed animals (must still have tags attached) through November 16. More than 150 students volunteered with CES Cares over the past year.