Commissioners Recognize the Community Spirit of Green Trees Learning Center Students

One day, nine-year-old Elizabeth Hopper, a Green Trees Early Learning Center after school student, decided to help her community food pantry. She rallied a few friends, requested information about the food pantry, and made flyers to post in the center’s hallway to create school-wide awareness. Each flyer requested donations of non-perishable foods and listed the Center as a drop off location. Later, the flyers were posted in other visible locations.

"We need to check the labels before we take the food," commented Hopper. As she checked the date on a can, she added, "It wouldn't be nice to give bad food." Her awareness of expiration dates and her initiative to monitor closely was admirable.

A large amount of dry goods and canned food was donated to the Ecumenical Food Pantry this month thanks to the thoughtfulness of Hopper, her 7-year-old friend Lyla Sustak, and other students.

The Pike County Commissioners recently presented Certificates of Recognition to this bright group of young people, and said thank you for their excellent work and community spirit during a visit to Green Trees Early Learning Center, in Milford.

Pictured above, from left to right: Front Row: Gianni Davis, Elizabeth Hopper, Lyla Sustack, Jeff Foord, and Jaylen Davis. Back Row: Mary Coene, Green Trees Early Learning Center Director Mary Rebe, Pike County Commissioner Matt Osterberg, Trevor Mussolini, and Melissa Dansen. Not in Photo: Holly Foord and Program Director Cera Alber.