iLearn students give back through food drive

Filling two full-size SUVs with canned foods, the students of iLearn Academy worked together to give back to the community this holiday season. In the spirit of competition, students from each grade faced off to see which class could collect the most cans in November, marking their collection on a poster with paper cans representing 10 cans each. By the end of the month, the fourth-graders had cans attached to the ceiling. The non-perishable goods were donated to the Auburn Interfaith Food Closet last week and according to Principal Andy Wood, the Food Closet was impressed with the amount the students collected. "They remarked that the amount donated was equal, if not more than, what they get from their Stuff the Bus events they host at grocery stores," Wood said. iLearn Academy is an independent study program which serves students who wish to home school or attend a hybrid school program. All of its 186 students took part in the drive. "I'm really proud of my kids," Wood said. "They really understand that while it's fun to have competitions, the real message is giving back to the families in need." Fourth-grader Eva Owens brought 20 cans a day and said she understood how important this drive was. "Technically, we are the winners but really the winners are the people who are benefitting from the food," Owens said. In addition to collecting cans, the iLearn eighth-grade class helped sort the food before it was delivered to the Food Closet. Wood said the school is very community service minded, and he wanted to make the theme of the school year giving back to the community. "We wanted to do things that can bring everyone together and raise morale," Wood said. "As a school, we wanted to take the focus off of COVID."