In what has become a tradition for the David A. Harrison Elementary School community, the season of giving and kindness took root as the campus' recent food drive saw students, families, and staff collect nearly 3,600 canned and non-perishable food items, benefiting the Prince George County Food Bank ahead of Thanksgiving. 

The drive was hosted by the school's Student Council Association, which played a key role in collecting, counting, and organizing donations as they flowed into the halls of Harrison Elementary. Their efforts filled numerous boxes as they tracked contributions from classrooms across the school, including by grade level. 

As the count continued to rise, it became apparent this year's drive would surpass previous collections, reaching a total of 3,574 food items, much to the delight of staff members like Mrs. Julie Brockwell, Harrison's instructional technology resource teacher and longtime member of the Bears community.

"Our yearly food drive gives all students and families the chance to lend a helping hand to community members in need," Mrs. Brockwell said. "It shows students that even bringing in one can makes a big impact when combined with all the other students' single cans."

As part of the collection drive, a friendly competition saw grade levels compete to bring in the most items to support the community. In the end, Harrison's third-grade team took top honors, contributing 734 items to the overall tally. 

"No amount of kindness and generosity is too small if we work together to help others," Mrs. Brockwell shared. "All the donations we received during and after the final count really reflect the continued commitment of Harrison families to supporting the community."

Harrison Elementary extends its gratitude to every student, family, and staff member who participated in this year's drive. Their collective efforts made a meaningful impact on local families and highlighted the school's ongoing spirit of service and compassion.