Community invited to help Monte Vista Elementary with cereal drive

By Julie Slama | [email protected]

While a single New York high school set the Guinness World Record for donating 2,866 boxes of breakfast cereal in 2017 to hurricane victims in Puerto Rico and Florida, Monte Vista Elementary students didn’t limit their collection number.

“We’d like to get at least 1,800 boxes of cereal, but we will take as many boxes as we can get,” fifth grade teacher Theresa Norton said. 

That’s because the donated boxes of cereal will be earmarked for other students in Jordan School District who are in need of food over the winter break. The collection donated by the 908 students at Monte Vista will join the donated boxes from other pupils in Jordan District to reach Title I school children.

“These students won’t have a chance to come to school and eat breakfast, so our kids are willing to help by making posters and fliers, asking for donations and bringing in boxes of cereal,” Norton said.

Monte Vista also is accepting donations from the community, if they would like to contribute to the cereal donation drive. Boxes of 10- to 20-ounce cereal can be donated by noon, Friday, Dec. 13 to Monte Vista Elementary, 1121 South 2700 West, South Jordan.

Holiday wrapping paper also can be donated, and the community is invited to help wrap the boxes, from Frosted Flakes to Cheerios, at 6:30 p.m., Dec. 16 at Oquirrh Elementary, 7165 South 3285 West, West Jordan.

Monte Vista fifth grade teacher Janet Barbiero said it has been a lesson for some students in her class.

“They didn’t realize that these students are relying on schools for meals,” she said. “It’s good for our community to realize that not everyone in the district has the same things and we can step up to help.”

Sixth grade student council member Maddie Howell said she and her younger brothers planned to bring in boxes of cereal.

“It’s important that they have breakfast, so they have energy for the day and aren’t grumpy,” she said. “By donating and helping other people, it makes me feel good. Some people don’t have as much as we do. It makes me realize we’re very lucky here, but anything we can do to help, will be appreciated.”

The Monte Vista cereal drive began when they realized Oquirrh Elementary Principal Shauna Worthington spearheaded the project last year at her school. With a few other schools and the community support, 2,869 boxes of cereal was collected – enough for every one of the 1,800 students in four Title I schools. Each box was wrapped to bring in the holiday spirit and cheer by 200 volunteers.

This year, the goal is 4,000 boxes of breakfast cereal, including those boxes donated by Monte Vista community, to give to students in seven Title I schools, Monte Vista Elementary Assistant Principal Baylee Lansford said.