The Manchester Township School District (MTSD) Cereal Drive 2025 is a fundraising initiative sponsored by the school district's Junior Impact, Impact, and Interact Clubs. These clubs are an extension of the Lakehurst/Manchester Rotary Club. Earlier in the month, the Club called on the community to help them raise thousands of new, unopened cereal boxes for donation. Manchester answered the call!
This week, students from across the MTSD came together for their monthly breakfast with the Rotary Club and then loaded a box truck with over 1,500 boxes of cereal which they then donated to Ocean County residents through partner food banks.
The students spent Thursday morning loading up cereal boxes from local business locations such as Oliverie Funeral Home and Ocean First Bank, Rotarian organizations that also served as cereal box collection sites for the community. Thanks to donations made through the school community, local business partnerships made directly with our students such as was done by Broden from Ridgeway Elementary School, and our senior community partners like Leisure Village West who donated cereal boxes during their Technology 101 session with MTHS earlier in the month, our students delivered endless boxes of cereal today!
Their first stop was St. John's Church in Lakehurst, NJ. There the students toured the food pantry and donated their requested 500 boxes of cereal to St. John's. The parish community members spoke to Manchester's students in appreciation for the donation, explaining that due to the rising cost of food, especially cereal, these initiatives are imperative to help combat food insecurity in our community.
The remaining 1000 boxes of cereal were donated to Somebody Cares, an all-volunteer program in Whiting, NJ that is dedicated to seniors helping seniors. Students proudly unloaded the donation to each location and were welcomed with opening and appreciative arms for their, and our community's collective effort to support those in Manchester in need. Thank you, to all, for your time, dedication, organization, and donation. Together, we make a difference!
