Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green reports students with the Schuler and Washington Elementary Schools helped to support the Atlantic Food Pantry in large numbers this week. The two schools were involved in a canned food drive between Nov. 25th and Dec. 10th.

Some students showing off one of the boxes their class collected to donate to our canned food drive. (Photo courtesy Officer Devin Hogue w/the Atlantic P-D)

The class donating the most items in each grade level will be rewarded with a matinee showing of Turbo, set to take place this Saturday (Dec. 14th), and each student who attends will also receive a free Kid’s Concession Special, including popcorn, drink and M&M’s.  The movie and treats are being provided free of charge to the students, courtesy the Atlantic Police Department and Reserves, through the Reserves’ Children’s account, which also supports the annual summer camp out and last year’s first ever trip to the zoo with kindergarten and first grade students.

On Dec. 10th, officers with the Atlantic Police Department went to each school, picked up and delivered all the collected items to the Atlantic Food Pantry. All the items were totaled by each teacher and logged by the Police Department to see which classes collected the most.

Schuler Elementary collected a total of 768 items, while Washington Elementary collected a total of 2,358 items, for a grand total of 3,126 donations.  Those items filled four pickup loads. Food Pantry representatives said it was the largest one-time donation they had ever received.

The winning classes were presented with a certificate on Dec. 11th. Steve Green and his officers with the Atlantic Police Department thank all the students who participated in the food drive, along with all their parents and family members who helped them in the effort. The donations will greatly benefit Atlantic and the Cass County Area during the holiday season.