Photo by Dave Warner – Sue Tucker with the Little Falls Food Pantry loads up her car at Benton Hall Academy.

Benton Hall Academy in Little Falls once again participated in the Herkimer County Hunger Coalition’s annual March Food Drive.

Between March 13 and 22, children in grades 2-5 brought in items assigned to each grade (e.g., tuna) based on Little Falls Pantry coordinator Sue Tucker’s request.

Coalition headman Kelly Brown commented, “We can’t thank enough the pupils, faculty-staff, and Principal Joe Long for once again participating in this important charity. No other area elementary school has been more supportive of our various projects than Benton Hall.”

Principal Long added-“Having our children get involved in a project like this provides them with a valuable experience which might motivate them down the road to become active volunteers in their communities.”

Coalition Director RJ Lenarcic commented-“Third and fourth graders participated in the Raymee the Leprechaun coloring contest. They enjoy themselves, each child receives something, and I can’t thank their teachers enough for overseeing these efforts.”

Brown announced that the Coalition’s next activity, in cooperation with the Herkimer Lions Club, will be an “Early Bird” Golf Tournament to be held May 13th at 10 AM at Mohawk Valley Country Club -3-man/women teams aged 50 and older.

The event will benefit Feed Our Vets and get the names of indigent veterans etched on the Memorial Wall at HCCC’s Veterans Memorial Park.

Lions Club Rudy Scialdo, Jr. commented: “This tournament is being held in honor and memory of a true American hero-Marine Lance Corporal David Mills from Mohawk, who was KIA in Vietnam. With Memorial Day approaching, I ask everyone to say a prayer in the memories of our fallen heroes from the Valley.”

Photo by Dave Warner - Ray Lenarcic takes a box of donated food out from Benton Hall Academy.

Photo by Dave Warner – Ray Lenarcic takes a box of donated food out from Benton Hall Academy.

Photo by Dave Warner - Kelly Brown takes a box of donated food out from Benton Hall Academy.

Photo by Dave Warner – Kelly Brown takes a box of donated food out from Benton Hall Academy while principle Joe Long holds the door.