Little Hands Give Big to Those in Need
Rockenbaugh, Old Union Program Expanding to Johnson, Carroll
By Nicholas Sakelaris, Staff Writer
Little Hands Big Hearts has already donated tons of milk to needy families, but founder Marlene Eldred dreamed of expanding beyond just two elementary schools.
Her wish came true on Oct. 3, when the Pro Players Foundation donated $7,000 to the charity. That means Little Hands Big Hearts of Southlake can expand to Carroll and Johnson elementary schools later this year.
With the program, children who don’t want to consume their milk or other selected items can voluntarily donate them to Little Hands Big Hearts, which stores the milk in a specially donated refrigerator in each participating school’s cafeteria.
In just six weeks, students at Rockenbaugh and Old Union elementary schools, where Eldred launched the program, donated more than 7 tons of milk to the Tarrant Area Food Bank, said Andrea Helms, communications director for the food bank. So far this school year, students have donated 1,253 pounds of milk for the food bank, which distributes to 300 hunger-relief organizations in 13 counties, Helms said.
Holt Dental Care and All-Star Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine donated the coolers for Rockenbaugh and Old Union elementary school.
"This milk is really good for after-school programs," Helms said. "We can give the kids more milk."
Eldred came up with Little Hands Big Hearts after seeing elementary students throwing unopened milk bottles in the trash. State law requires school districts place milk on every tray whether the child wants it or not.
But this year, hard economic times combined with demand from Hurricane Ike evacuees have the food bank working overtime. During July, August and September the food bank gave out 34 percent more food than during the same period in 2007, Helms said.
"These food pantries are bare. These organizations can’t donate like they used to," Eldred said. "The Pro Players were a godsend."
Eldred sees her charity as a win-win proposition: It prevents food from going to waste at the same time it helps needy children get the nutrition they need.
Eldred actually has enough money now to purchase three coolers, so she’s also in negotiations with administrators at Eubanks Intermediate School to expand the charity there.
The food bank’s refrigerated truck already makes trips three times a week to Central Market as well as Rockenbaugh and Old Union. However, the truck is on a tight schedule so adding more than two additional campuses could be problematic, Helms said. The food bank could solicit help from other charities that have refrigerated trucks.
"We wish we had more trucks and more drivers," Helms said.
Friday, Oct. 24, 2008
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July 22, 2008
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Holiday Issue, 2008
Marlene Eldred saw a problem. And like most mothers, she knew there had to be a way to fix it....
