Freeman Students 'Weigh In' Against Hunger

It's the time of year when many organizations accept food donations for the local pantry, including a group of students in Freeman.

Freeman Academy challenged the students and local community to donate enough food that collectively weighs more than the entire first through fourth grade classes.

It's an unusual field trip for the group, visiting a local grain elevator in the middle of December.

“We will first weigh the van empty and then we will add our weight and find the difference,” Teacher Jared Goede said.

A van packed with students sits atop the weigh station to find out just how much they all weigh.

It's a critical number because the school's staff, students and the Freeman community gathered donations they hope weigh more than the entire class.

"I think it's kind of the spirit of our classroom to get the kids out in the community and really see what's going on there and we know about people in need and we have different needs for food," Goede said.

Together, the students weigh a whopping 840 pounds. The van full of donated goods, minus the weight of the vehicle, comes in around 320 pounds.

And even though the students didn't give enough food to exceed their weight, they say they're happy they can help the needs of the community.

"I am kind of excited I can help people with their problems to get more food for Christmas so that really gets me psyched," fourth grader Gabe Miller said.

"Makes me feel really happy to do it because it's fun to donate to people in need," second grader Jada Koerner said.