For the fourth year in a row, the student body of Eldredge Elementary School marched from their school down Prospect Street to the food pantry at St. Luke’s Church, carrying the nonperishable foodstuffs collected during November.

The Eldredge “Turkey Trot” was supposed to take place before Thanksgiving, but was delayed to Monday because of the cold, rainy weather last Tuesday. They got a perfect day for “trotting.”

In all, the students collected 807 canned and dry goods for the East Greenwich Interfaith Food Pantry. For pantry director Steve Bartlett, it’s a win-win.

“This is just a wonderful event for both the children and the food cupboard. We will have our storerooms full because of this and that will carry us through February,” he said. “It’s just a wonderful thing that the teachers do.”

The drive has been shepharded by three Eldredge teachers in particular: music teacher Mary Smith, special education teacher Bonnie Correira, and 4th grade teacher Kara Ratigan.

“It’s so important for the kids to get involved and it’s an easy way for them to get involved in a way that’s meaningful for them,” said Smith. “It’s going right back into their community.”