Every Valentine's Day, Hinkletown Mennonite School (HMS) holds a school-wide giving project as a part of its efforts to teach students to be aware of and help to meet the needs in their local and global communities. This year, HMS families bought food and other necessities to donate to CrossNet Ministries, a nonprofit ministry based in New Holland. The ministry aims to empower people throughout the ELANCO area to steward and build upon their resources as well as to develop relationships with community members to see lives changed by Jesus Christ. By organizing a food drive for this year's Valentine's Day giving project, HMS aims to take on the role that Jesus asked His disciples to fill in Matthew 22:36-40 - to love their neighbors as themselves.

The food drive was headed up by the middle school Student Council, which took leadership in organizing, promoting, and delivering the donations. In total, HMS gathered 801 pounds of food and household items.

To learn more about Hinkletown Mennonite School, visit http://www.hinkletownschool.org.