Third-Grade Students Make a Difference through Annual Food Drive
November 10, 2026
At The Episcopal School of Dallas (ESD), we believe Service to Others is one of the highest callings and an integral part of our Episcopal Identity. Through age-appropriate service opportunities, all of our students learn the importance of caring for others and recognize the impact they can make in their communities. For the third grade, that lesson takes shape each fall through an immersive exploration of food scarcity and a longstanding partnership with Now-Forward (formerly North Dallas Shared Ministries), a Dallas-based nonprofit organization that provides emergency assistance and health services to local residents.
As part of the unit, students visit a local grocery store for a lesson that brings classroom mathematics into a real-world setting. Before their visit, students research current prices for everyday grocery items and develop shopping lists based on their findings. At the store, they compare their research with in-store prices, gaining firsthand insight into how food costs can fluctuate and how those changes affect a family's grocery budget. Working within a budget of $15.28, students practice making thoughtful purchasing decisions as they shop for the ingredients needed to prepare three meals and a snack for a family of four.
The learning continues through the grade’s annual canned food drive benefiting Now-Forward. For one week, third graders welcome donations during morning carpool, collecting bags of nonperishable food items and toiletry essentials to support local families. This year, the ESD community contributed an impressive 471 bags, representing an estimated 3,300 individual items!
To bring the initiative to a close, students recently gathered to sort the donations, load them onto buses, and deliver them to Now-Forward’s facilities. Working together in an assembly line, the third graders helped unload their substantial collection of goods before touring the organization’s facilities. Now-Forward graciously welcomes ESD students each year, offering an opportunity to learn more about its services, which include food and clothing assistance, as well as dental and medical care for individuals and families in need.
Through this experience, students gain a deeper understanding of food scarcity, the resources available to those facing hardship, and the meaningful role they can play in addressing community needs. Their efforts are a reminder that, even at a young age, being an ESD Eagle means a commitment to thoughtful action, collective effort, and a willingness to give back, which can make a lasting difference in the lives of others.
