Try as she might, London Elementary School Principal Marcia Correia could not conceal her tears of joy.
Students from the Arkansas Tech University Emerging Leaders Society organization began unloading donated food from their vehicles around 9 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 15. They started placing the non-perishable food items along the front of the London Elementary stage.
After about 45 minutes of box after box entering the room, it was determined they would need to draw back the stage curtain to have enough room for all the food.
It was the largest donation in the three-year history of a collaboration between ATU students and London Elementary to support the food backpack program for children in need at the school.
“It’s a sense of security,” said Correia when asked what the donated food will mean for students at London Elementary School. “It brings hope for our kids. I was one of these kids when I was growing up. There were times we didn’t know when our next meal was going to come. To give our students that sense of security is the most important thing we can do for them. It starts with that before we can do anything else.”
The ATU Emerging Leaders Society is in its first year of existence. It was founded by senior Maddy Hughes of Bentonville, who had participated in similar efforts to collect food for the London Elementary School backpack program the previous two years.
Hughes viewed continuing the project as both an important contribution to the community and a leadership development opportunity for ATU students.
“I started this organization for students who are underclassmen or maybe don’t have leadership experience,” said Hughes. “I want them to understand they don’t have to have an executive board position in a student organization to have an impact in their community and grow their own leadership style. Our two co-chairs are freshmen, so being able to spread that responsibility, see everyone grow and come together while serving others is everything I wanted this organization to be. If I went back and told freshman year Maddy this is what would be happening for an organization that you are the president of, I wouldn’t have believed it. It’s a prideful moment for me and our entire board.”
Three members of the ATU Emerging Leaders Society took on leadership roles for the project. Skyla Eckhardt of Rogers served as coordinator for the London Elementary School food drive. Maddie Mertens of Harrison was on-campus chair for the effort, while Gannon Campbell of Greenbrier was off-campus chair.
Hughes, Eckhardt, Mertens and Campbell were joined at the food drop-off at London Elementary by fellow ATU Emerging Leaders Society members Shilo Reed of Fouke, Andrea Vega Lopez of Rogers and Lauren Kirkland of Rogers. They were supported by ATU faculty members Dr. Jeremy Schwehm and Tiffany Nance.
Community partners that assisted in collecting the food for London Elementary School students included Bank OZK, Chambers Bank, Dog Ear Books, First Security Bank, First State Bank, JB Wellness, Midtown Coffee North, New Life Church, Russellville Christian Center, Tractor Supply Company and Westside Church of Christ.
Like Correia, helping children in need is personal for Hughes.
“I come from a similar background as these kids,” said Hughes. “Being able to make that kind of a difference is the most heartwarming thing. Me knowing that this is going to have an impact on the future is fantastic. I told the (ATU Emerging Student Leaders) board that if I cry, it will be a nostalgia cry. I’ve been doing this for three years. It’s a full circle moment. To know that these kids are going to be fed and provided for because of the hard work this organization put into it…I could not be prouder of my team.”
Correia feels the same way about the ATU Emerging Student Leaders.
“They’re amazing,” said Correia. “They have a huge heart to take the time and do something like this for kids they don’t even know. You can tell they want to be leaders in our community, and I really hope that one day they are.”
