Julie Rosenthal, program management specialist for the Dresher Center for the Humanities, was moved by the disparity between low-income seniors and wealthy students in Howard County, so she created the program “Food in the 15th” to give public school children the opportunity to deliver food and supplies to seniors and see their needs firsthand.
“They are making a connection with the seniors and bringing about positive change in their community,” said Rosenthal. Participants in the program have given out 4,000 bags of free groceries and toiletries to income-qualified seniors over the past four years, and it won a Healthy Schools Innovation Award in May.
“The kids get back 10 million times more than they give,” said Rosenthal. “It’s just been the most amazing thing.”
The story, “Senior food program teaches students lessons about community,” appeared December 18 in the Baltimore Sun.
umbcinsightsweekly.wordpress.com 