A group of homeschooled students recently turned a routine grocery trip into an adventure aimed at filling the pantries of those in need.
The Fun Food Race Extravaganza, organized by Brandy Yeargan of the Rooted & Rising homeschool co-op, brought together 15 students aged 5 to 14 for an unforgettable lesson in giving back. Armed with $30 and a wish list, five teams of three raced through H-E-B—walking, not running—to gather 10 essential items while staying within budget.
“We have to get kids involved in the community when they’re young if we want them to serve the community as they grow,” Yeargan explains. “The way to get kids involved is to make it fun, and this was a super fun project.”
Thanks to parent and business sponsorships, the creative competition generated $250 worth of food, or 181 pounds of groceries, for Helping Hands Dripping Springs, a 100-percent volunteer-based organization serving the community since 1986.
“Sometimes we just need to give them a little extra motivation to show them how much fun giving back can be,” says participant parent Heather Daoust. “I tell my kids every day, ‘You can do hard things, especially for others.’”
The donation came at a crucial time. According to Lindy Orr, Helping Hands president, the organization has seen demand surge 30 to 40 percent in recent years. What once served 85 families weekly now supports 165 to 185 families, with each household able to take home $75 to $100 worth of groceries.
“We don’t always think of Dripping Springs as a community with folks in need, but there are many,” Orr says. “Poverty has so many different faces. We’ve helped successful business owners get back on their feet. All it takes is one kiddo getting sick, one car accident, or one spouse getting laid off. Our goal is to help families get back on track so they can be fully independent again.”
Located on Dripping Springs Methodist Church’s campus on Ranch Road 12, the food pantry receives 75 percent of its inventory from the Central Texas Food Bank. The remaining 25 percent comes from community donations. (Non-perishable food donations can be dropped off at 17 donation barrels located throughout Dripping Springs.)
The Fun Food Race is one of many events community members and organizations have dreamed up to help keep the shelves of the food pantry full. From the Boy Scouts’ Halloween food drive to scavenger hunts and food drive competitions, Lindy says there are dozens of creative ways kids and families can get involved.
Upcoming events include an Open House at the food pantry on October 10; the annual Empty Bowl Project on November 2, which provides more than 65 percent of the organization’s annual budget; and Project Elf, a beloved tradition that provided Christmas gifts to more than 430 DSISD children last year.
To volunteer, donate, or learn more about upcoming events, visit
HelpingHands-DrippingSprings.org | dshelping_hands