(PHOTOS) Eisenhower Students Make Sandwiches for the Homeless

students found out Monday just how much good some coins can do.

With a portion of $500 raised by a penny war in November, 200 fifth- and sixth-grade students and 14 volunteers assembled 750 sandwiches for Minneapolis Recreation Development, Inc.’s 363 Days Food program. In addition, the school hosted a sock drive that brought in nearly 750 socks for the program to deliver.

“If it weren’t for the schools like this, churches and businesses, I wouldn’t be making sandwiches for 1,000 people a day,” said MRD founder Allan Law.

Law, a retired teacher, founded MRD in 1967—funding it entirely himself for 29 years. The organization’s 363 Days Food program—a name that refers to feeding people on days other than Thanksgiving and Christmas—brings food to those who need it most. Law, himself, delivers the sandwiches late at night.

“Appreciate what you’ve got,” Law told the students. “If you’ve got an apartment or house, appreciate that. Go home and say thank you.”

Sixth-grader Veronica had already made sandwiches for MRD when she helped at a friend’s church, but she said she was happy to be doing it again at school.

“I feel happy because I know I’m making for people who don’t get,” Veronica said.

The event had special resonance for Eisenhower student Bile. He said making the sandwiches made him think of relatives back in Somalia who are hungry. He was happy to be making food for people here who don’t have enough to eat.

“It’s kind of fun that you get to help homeless people,” Bile said.

(Tax-deductible donations can be made online at www.mrdinc.org or www.363days.org. Donations can also be mailed to: Minneapolis Recreation Development, Inc.; 7220 York Ave. S., #610; Edina, MN 55435)

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