Successful Glen Dale Elementary Food Drive Results in Piglet Kissing Celebration
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GLEN DALE - As the two black and pink piglets were removed from their cage, Glen Dale Elementary School students cheered with excitement and began to chant, "Kiss that pig!"
The students' work to collect food for a church pantry paid off Friday when they got to see their principal, fellow students and others kiss the piglets on the playground.
The piglets, born Jan. 9, belong to Ebony Hill Show Pigs of Cameron, said Greg Knight, who brought the pigs with help from his son Levi Knight.
Greg Knight said it was amazing to see the children's reaction to the pigs. Some of the students had never seen a pig in person before and he was happy to provide that experience.
"It's amazing to see how much they put into the food drive," he added.
Fifth graders Landis Dean and Colbie Ward created the idea for the food drive and piglet kissing celebration. The school surpassed its goal of collecting 600 items for the Glen Dale United Methodist Church food pantry by donating 1,200 items. There was also a competition to see which grade could collect the most food. The fifth grade won.
Much of that food will go right back to Glen Dale students in need who receive food for the weekend backpack food program. Principal Kimberly Cain said some of the food will also help fill Easter dinner boxes for about 20 different students and their families as well.
"It was so much fun," Cain said of the event. "It touches my heart to see how hard they worked for the school."
Cain said she had no problem kissing a piglet. When was younger she was in the FFA and had show pigs. And just a couple years ago she kissed piglets for a food drive held at the school then.
"It was fun to make the kids laugh and smile," she said.
Both Dean and Ward kissed the piglets as well. Both thought the pigs were a little smelly and their hair a little wiry, but they were OK with it because it was for a good cause.
"I enjoyed it. It was fun. It's not like I wouldn't do it again," Ward said.
Dean said they remembered when their principal kissed a piglet in the past and wanted it to happen again.
"We thought it would be funny," he said.
Both Dean and Ward are proud of what their school accomplished during the drive.
"The food is for people who need help, for those struggling in the community," he said.
The piglets didn't have names yet and at the end of the event the preschoolers decided they should be named Lilliana and Jeff.