FFA members give back during fruit fundraiser
The Rockmart High School Future Farmers of America are making an impact on the community by giving back during their annual fundraiser some of what couldn’t be sold to local organizations who can put it to good use.
The organization’s annual Florida Fruit Association fundraiser helps to cover costs of after-school competitions, community service projects and chapter events.
This year, the Rockmart High School chapter sold over 1,000 boxes of fruit, and with leftovers were able to make donations to two local organizations: Graduate Polk and the Rockmart Homeless Initiative.
Graduate Polk is a new Polk County College and Career Academy program with locations on Rockmart and Cedartown High School Campuses. Students have access several services through the program, including a clothing closet and food pantry.
The FFA chapter donated a total of four boxes of oranges and grapefruit to the food pantry for students at Rockmart High School.
The Rockmart Homeless Initiative Resource Center is located on South Marble Street in downtown Rockmart. The center is always in need of financial assistance and food, clothing and other donations to help those who are on the streets and have no other options.
Six boxes of fruit and sweet potatoes were donated to the resource center by the Rockmart FFA program.
“It feels great to give back to those in need,” Rockmart FFA advisor and high school agriculture teacher Polly Baron said.
“We will participate in several community service projects this year, but this one was in conjunction with our annual fruit sale,” Baron added.
The FFA chapter looks forward to upcoming Christmas service projects, including Christmas for Kids at Rockmart High School, as well as Christmas for a Family through Helping Hands Ministries.