The group of Essex Elementary School kids known as Hands & Hearts conducted a food drive at the Essex Colonial Market on November 7th and 8th and collected just shy of a ton of food for the Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Food Pantries. The actual count was 1830lbs. The children worked throughout the weekend collecting food donations from the Colonial Market customers. The kids were excited as the shopping carts were filled with generous gifts from local community members. There were ear to ear smiles as the kids brought their collections to the food pantry in Westbrook. Hands & Hearts director Tammy LeFoll said she couldn’t be more proud of the children. “The purpose of Hands & Hearts is to teach the children how to give back to the community in which we live. The children learn that not everyone has abundance and that it is important to help those in need.” said LeFoll. The idea for Hands & Hearts originated at the First Congregational Church of Essex which continues to support the community service activities of the elementary kids. This year’s food drive was made even more successful by the Colonial Market’s innovative idea of selling $5 bags containing 6 food items that are in high demand at the Soup Kitchen. “It made it easy for the customers to go in and grab a $5 bag”, said LeFoll. “It was a win, win, win for everyone – the children, the customers, and most of all the Soup Kitchen.” Patty Dowling, Executive Director of Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Food Pantries had this to say about the food drive: “An amazing effort by those children in our community, coming together on a fall Saturday and Sunday to collect food for The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries. This event, now in its 3rd year really demonstrates the kindness of those in our community – the generosity of the Colonial Market customers, the energy of the children and parents of the Essex Elementary kids, and all those who worked so hard to gather almost a ton of food for our pantry. On behalf of those we serve, I say heartfully, thank you so much.”