TISA Talks: A box in every classroom
The Taos Integrated School of the Arts (TISA) fourth-grade classroom had an idea — one that grew and came to fruition Feb. 6 thanks to the help of a handful of locals with a passion for caring.
The Shared Table at El Pueblito Methodist Church has has been feeding local families for the past 23 years. Now, with the help of Eve Tovino (food pantry manager) and Steve Wiard, the pastor/director, the students at TISA will have a box of healthy snacks available in every classroom each week.
The snacks — popcorn, granola bars, oatmeal, fruit and other healthy treats — will be delivered every Monday to TISA by Shared Table volunteers and sorted into classroom boxes by the TISA fourth-graders. Members of the fourth-grade class will integrate this weekly activity into their daily math, civics and nutritional lessons. It’s hands-on learning to lend a hand to the greater school community.
Teachers have always known the need for “brain food” exists in every classroom across the state. Most solve the problem by stuffing a desk drawer with nonperishable treats and handing those out to students in need. TISA fourth-graders reached out to Tovino and Wiard in an effort to make sure fellow students who may come to school hungry won’t leave hungry.
Wiard was happy to fill the void and stop the tummy grumbling.
“I spent 18 years as a public school teacher in eastern Kansas [high school social sciences], and I know what it’s like when kids come to school hungry or have to go home still hungry. Meaningful learning takes place when children – or adults, for that matter – are not worried or anxious about when they will eat again,” said Wiard. “We are not able to assist every child in the county with food needs, but we can and will try to make a difference when we are called upon to do so. The El Pueblito Methodist Church and the Shared Table are both supportive of our efforts to help children however we can. The teachers and administrators at TISA are encouraging their students to be creative, to learn as much as they can in a given day – and it seems that the least we can do as a local food pantry is to assist with one of the basics, that being food and letting young children know from an early age that we really are our brother and sister’s keeper.”
Tovino shared her life motto. “Service is the rent we pay for being here,” she said while carrying box after box of granola bars, bananas and oatmeal into the TISA office.
As people read this story, they may wish to donate money and, if so, they can send a donation to Shared Table, P.O. Box 895, Ranchos de Taos, NM 87557.
Bowers Avina is a TISA fourth grade/art curriculum coordinator and TISA mom.
