Kindergarteners Learn Meaning of Soup-er Donation

kindergarteners learned the meaning of giving back Tuesday when Councilman Gary Moleta visited a group of three classes to accept a donation of 116 cans of soup for the Kinnelon Food Pantry.

Moleta, the council liaision to the Kinnelon Health Department, started his presentation by listening to the students tell him what they think a councilman is.

"Someone who tells everyone what to do," one student said.

"Another word for boss," another answered.

But Moleta explained that the mayor and council work to make sure the students, and all members of the community, are safe and happy. He then told the group that thanks to the donation they were making, families that cannot afford food will be able to eat.

The students collected the cans with help from their teachers-Louise Smith, Michelle Sorce and Holly Campbell-as part of the "100th Day of School" celebration on Feb. 13.

"We set a goal for the '100th Day of School' to make it a soup-er celebration by bringing in 100 cans of soup," Smith said.

But the students surpassed their goal by bringing in 116 cans.

"You're taking care of people who live where you live that cannot afford food," Moleta said. "This is such a good thing that you have done."

Smith praised the students for their donation and hard work collecting the cans.

"It makes your heart happy," she said. "That's what you're doing, leaving a heart-print for people who are hungry."