KANSAS CITY, Mo. — All this week, Red Bridge Elementary students have been gearing up for the big Super Bowl game.
"I love the Chiefs," six-year-old Gemma Licausi said with excitement.
But Gemma's teacher, Katie Till, and her first grade class are getting ready for a different kind of Super Bowl.
They're gearing up for the "Souper Bowl of Caring," an event the class heard about through First Baptist Church.
"This is the second year they've participated in this 'Souper Bowl of Caring' and it's really extra special this year because the Chiefs are going to the Super Bowl," Till said. "So we have been trying to show our K.C. spirit."
Till said it's a fun competition between all the grades to raise the most can goods.
She said through this competition, students learn a variety of different topics.
"Everyday they've been doing some writing about their community helpers that they've been researching and counting their cans," Till said. "And it really connects to some of the standards we work on here in our math class."
And those math skills have been put to good use.
It's only been three days of the competition, and they've collected nearly 500 cans so far.
"It's so nice to get the kids involved in such a young age," Till said. "I think it's very important to show them ways they can get involved with their community and get involved with those experiences."
With eyes big with excitement about how much has been donated, the first graders already have a win for their community to help those in need.
"It's important so they can't be hungry," six-year-old Skye Crane said.
"It's helping our community to stay alive and be healthy if they don't have money," Gemma Licausi said.
The goal is to have 1,000 can good by the end of the week. They'll then be delivered to the Red Bridge Food Pantry Saturday morning.
To learn more about the event and to donate, you can call Red Bridge Elementary at 816-349-4200.
