Local South Jordan school children are working to ease some hunger pains from those in the community by donating canned food and non-perishable items at their annual school food drives.

During the week of Dec. 8, Elk Meadows Elementary students had a goal to bring in donations weighing 3,000 pounds, up 500 pounds from what they gathered last year for the Utah Food Bank.

“The kids get excited about this, and they can see as they walk in how much food has been donated and know where the food is going and how they’re getting to help people,” Parent-Teacher Association president Cindy Jensen said. “A lot of kids want things and Mom and Dad just go out and buy it for them. They don’t realize how many others don’t have parents who can go out and buy everything they want, and so they go without. This is helping them to think about others and giving to someone else.”

Jordan Ridge Principal Catherine Anderson said that her school’s month-long annual food drive ends with donations given at the first-grade holiday program in early December. This year’s contributions will be given to the Draper-Riverton Rotary Club, which will distribute the food.

“We want students to learn how to be better citizens,” she said. “It fits in with our Leader in Me program’s core curriculum of doing for other people, especially for those less fortunate then you.”

At American Heritage of South Jordan, students donated 3,040 cans, up 900 items from last year. Their school-wide 10th annual food drive was completed in November, and National Junior Honor Society members delivered and stocked shelves at St. Andrew’s Food Pantry, which serves Bluffdale, Herriman, Riverton, South Jordan and West Jordan.

“The idea is to give back and be a service to the community,” curriculum director Scotti Hansen said. “We’re helping 200 families right here in our community.”