November is always a month when our school community shows our generosity - and this year we’re going the extra mile to celebrate Toll Gate’s 100th anniversary and respond to increased needs in our community.
HOPEWELL VALLEY MOBILE FOOD PANTRY DRIVE
From November 10 - 14, we will conduct a food drive for Hopewell Valley Mobile Food Pantry. Food pantries expect increased demand due to the federal shutdown, so let’s help them meet this need! Please see this flyer for high-need items and suggested donations by grade. Donations will be accepted at drop-off and bus arrival from Monday through Friday.
TRENTON AREA SOUP KITCHEN - THANKSGIVING PROJECT
For over 35 years, Toll Gate has donated food and brought cheer for Trenton Area Soup Kitchen's Thanksgiving meal for their patrons. There are many ways our students and families can support this effort! Please see this flyer for donation details and sign-up links.
1. Each grade level has been assigned a non-perishable food item with suggested quantities to donate (see flyer for details). The collection will take place at Toll Gate from November 17-21. (In honor of TG's 100th anniversary, we're aiming for 100+ of each item!)
2. Students in 2nd-5th grades will bake 150+ sweet potato pies in the TG cafeteria on the morning of Wednesday, November 26. Parents (or grandparents or other grown-ups) are invited to bake with their child (see flyer for sign-up link). We also need volunteer leads for the morning to help with station set-up, dishwashing, ovens, etc. If you're able to donate your time on Nov. 26 to help lead the baking effort, please contact Valerie Buchert at valerie.buchert@outlook.com.
3. Kindergarten and 1st grade students will decorate placemats and create centerpieces to make TASK's dining room festive and fun for the holiday! TASK committee will coordinate this with teachers and room parents.
4. 5th grade students will go to TASK on the morning of Tuesday, November 25 to decorate the dining room, put together utensil packs, and assist the TASK team with other set-up for the big holiday. Students will also participate in a tour of TASK's facility. Permission slips will go to 5th grade parents in the coming weeks.
5. We will collect frozen turkeys outside Toll Gate during morning drop-off from November 24 - 26.
6. This tradition also includes some community groups outside Toll Gate: Girl Scouts will bake 200+ loaves of cornbread to donate. And local pre-schools are donating applesauce!
Thank you for helping us to bring food and friendship to people in our community this November!