
WILLIAMSBURG — Earlier this month, Clara Byrd Baker Elementary collected over 3,000 items of food from its students and parents to donate to FISH Inc.
The donation campaign was prompted by the integration of the Ron Clark Academy house system, which has been adapted to the elementary school. The program is designed to build character, foster school spirit, enhance relationships and improve attendance.
The school has been divided into four “dens” in honor of the school’s mascot, the Bears. Throughout the day, students strive to demonstrate the character traits highlighted by each of the dens — bravery, encouragement, accountability and respect. Each Den has five house leaders who meet twice a month with Alison Grygalonis, the elementary technology teacher, and Ashley Green, a school counselor. During one of these meetings, they decided to do a service project, settling on a food drive.
Researching the area, Grygalonis and Green chose FISH Inc., the all-volunteer nonprofit agency that has been providing food, hygiene items, clothing, and basic housewares assistance to residents in need in the Greater Williamsburg area since 1975 and is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Grygalonis said they stopped counting after 3,004, but estimated that donations totaled around 3,020 items total.
“We’re always glad when children can be enthusiastic about helping the community,” said Maura Rush, FISH Inc. Vice President and Donation Coordinator.

Two volunteers from FISH drove a van over to pick up the donations, which Rush felt numbered closer to 3,500 food items, adding the van had to make two trips to pick up all of the items.
“We really depend on the generosity of community donations to keep our food pantry stocked and they did a really good job,” said Rush.
Rush said last year that the organization served somewhere around the equivalent of 420,000 meals last year. FISH services Williamsburg, James City County and York County. Eligible community members come once a month for food, three times a year for clothing, and once a year for household goods.
All parties also thanked parents for their support helping their children collect donations.
Grygalonis and Green said the house leaders learned that being a good leader means helping others and serving people in their community. While competing to see who could donate the most for their house, they also got to see how giving back can help other people and how to work as a team.
Students earned points for how many items they donated, with the winner being the one who donated the most. Each quarter, the house that has the most points earns a celebration.
“It was amazing, it almost brought me to tears at some points when I saw all the food that we had collected,” Grygalonis said.
Clara Baker has discussed doing the drive again next year with FISH or another organization, and perhaps expanding it.