LEWISBURG — Tri-County North Student Council’s food drive for Cabbage Patch distribution was a huge success this year, according to Preble County Success Program Liaison Bethany Petry.

In a recent newsletter, Petry reported TCN staff and students collected enough non-perishable food items to fill over 100 food bags and have a “bountiful supply” to restock the Food Pantry at Lewisburg Trinity Lutheran Church.

“Erica Grieshop had a brilliant idea this year to send each family with children a ‘child friendly’ box along with the food items they received through Cabbage Patch,” Petry noted. “The child-friendly box included items such as ravioli, cereal, ramen noodles, fruit, and many other items that children are capable of preparing with minimal supervision. Erica’s dream is to continue the children’s box over spring break and throughout summer break for those children with a need.”

According to Success Program officials, because Petry was at TCN schools, “we were able to work as a team to make referrals to the food pantry and vice versa to make sure we were meeting the needs of the community.”

Success Program officials offers a special “thank you” to TCN staff, TCN Student Council, Pastor Brent Cavendish, Erica Grieshop, “and the wonderful people in the food pantry who volunteer their time every week to make sure the community has food to provide to their family,” as well as everyone who has contributed to students in the Tri-County North Success Program.

“The Success Program values your partnership and appreciates your generosity to help those in your community,” officials noted.