MADISON – Fifth-grader Elizabeth Peterson wanted to help people in the community when she decided on a service project to earn the Bronze Award in Girl Scouts.

“I picked a food drive because I realized around the community there were food issues,” Elizabeth said. “I wanted to collect items and do something that will really help.”

Elizabeth Peterson organized and completed an extensive collection for non-perishable and snack foods in support of the Bronze Award. She contacted Lead Pastor Suzanne Katchke at her church, Heritage United Methodist, and Principal Dr. Georgina Nelson at her school, Heritage Elementary, to assist in collecting food for three weeks in February.

“I learned that I couldn’t do this project alone,” Elizabeth said.

Elizabeth gathered the donations to benefit the Food Bank Of America – Northern Alabama and contacted Allan Evans, Store Donation Coordinator at Food Bank of North Alabama. “Mr. Evans said he never had a student or even an individual contact him for donations before Elizabeth’s drive,” Heidi Peterson, Elizabeth’s mother, said.

“We want to bring awareness to hunger needs in the community,” Heidi said. Heidi and Elizabeth delivered the collections to the Food Bank.

In total, Elizabeth collected 260 pounds of food. The donations included 144 cans of food, eight boxes of breakfast choices, 14 candies, 22 packages of rice, 22 packages of noodles, 72 packages of animal crackers, 2 packages of dried beans, 11 packages of macaroni and cheese, 7 cans of Boost drinks and 5 other miscellaneous items.

A Junior Girl Scout, Elizabeth belongs to Girl Scout Troop 10219. Troop Leaders are Christy Black and Karan Medlock.

At Heritage, Elizabeth participates with the Lego Robotics Team and was selected for Student to Student or S2S ambassador team. She loves all animals, especially her two cats, Travis and Chrystal.

For five years, Elizabeth has volunteered with the American Legion to place flags and wreaths on veteran graves. At church, she is involved in outreach events, cleanup days and children’s ministry.

Heidi retired from the U.S. Army Reserves as CW3 and currently is enrolled at Dallas Theological Seminary. Elizabeth’s father, Edward Peterson, retired as CW5 from the U.S. Army. He works as Contracting Officer for Army Contracting Command.