For two weeks, the food piled up at Crestwood Elementary School.

Members of the Crestwood Student Council organized a food drive, with everything collected being split between the Maple Valley and Kent food banks, according to Kaaren Kim, student council advisor.

“They made signs, talked to classrooms and made schoolwide announcements to promote the drive,” Kim said. “The kids do all the work counting cans, sorting and boxing the food. The students are very excited about helping those in need.”

On a recent Wednesday, four sixth-graders from the council made the rounds in the afternoon at the Covington school. A small makeshift cart was tugged by Emily Jensen. Travis Breeden and Bailey Griglio counted cans, boxes and packages of food, while Andrew Spring kept a running tally on his clip board of how much each classroom donated.

“This is going to be a big help for the food bank,” Jensen said. “I’ve worked at a food bank before. It was in Renton. I helped my grandma.”

Jensen said handing out food to families in need in Renton made her realize how important it is to help food banks, especially during the winter.

Kim said the Crestwood students tried to collect at least 1,000 items of food. At the end of the food drive Dec. 10, students had brought in 1,548 cans, boxes, bags and packages of food, ranging from cranberry sauce to rice to Hamburger Helper to ramen noodles.

The students were “doing something for people who really need it instead of thinking of themselves,” Griglio said.

The economic troubles the country is going through has been on their minds, as well, during the food drive.

“The most important thing is that in tough times, you can still give, and every little bit helps,” Spring said.

Jensen said she thought the most significant lesson learned was that they were all able to work together to achieve a common goal.

Breeden said he was impressed earlier in the year when Emerald City Smoothies donated prizes for Crestwood’s Box Tops and Campbell’s Soup Labels drive. That example wasn’t lost on him.

“We can donate and help in hard times,” Breeden said. “That shows that people care.”

Crestwood students will continue to help the community, Griglio said, as they have another food drive coming, as well as a toy drive for youngsters who are hospitalized.

Staff writer Kris Hill can be reached at (425) 432-1209 (extension 5054) and khill@reporternewspapers.com